“This solution has the advantage of being adoptable by recycling companies using standard processes.” CHEMICAL RECYCLING ZOOM This is the second method for recycling Elium® resin composites. The process consists of crushing the composite and heating it to around SPOTLIGHT 400 degrees in order to turn the solid resin into a WHAT IS MMATWO? gaseous monomer . “It can be recovered, purified MMAtwo is an ambitious project and formulated into a resin that can be used in involving manufacturers and academics applications with the same level of performance as in creating a large PMMA recycling the virgin resin,” states Jean-François Devaux, expert network. It is funded as part of research engineer at Arkema. “Chemical recycling the Horizon 2020 EU research and also allows operators to take larger volumes, and innovation plan and comprises thirteen badly damaged or end-of-life composites do not partners from six different countries pose an obstacle to recovering the resin. This means representing all stages of the PMMA that we can ensure circularity with a material that value chain. Arkema is heavily involved can be reused for multiple applications.” Recovered in MMAtwo as a PMMA producer, and carbon or glass fibers can also be recycled, but for intends to go even further by coming applications other than the original use. up with a demonstration model for recycling Elium resin-based composites.® GROUP EFFORT Scheduled for 2022. In order to put these two recycling methods on a viable industrial footing, Arkema is working closely with its partners. The “REVEL” mechanical recycling project is at an advanced stage, with Find out more the development by CETIM Grand Est of its about MMAtwo Thermosaïc technological solution for recycling® Elium resin-based composites. Meanwhile, there® have been several large-scale collaborations in chemical recycling, such as the MMAtwo project on the recycling of PMMA and, soon, Elium® composites (see inset), as well as the ZEBRA* program, which focuses on wind turbine blades (see next double page). ANTICIPATING NEW COMPOSITE MATERIALS With end-of-life Elium-based composites coming® onto the market in the next few decades, action is being taken now to prepare for this phase in order to be ready to receive these materials and make the most of them in terms of recycling or reuse. “While waiting for them to reach the end of their life, we can count on consumables made from Elium-based® composite materials arriving in 2024-2025, with production waste from the manufacturing of boats and wind turbine blades...” says Jean-François Devaux. “These account for 5-10% of composite materials made, and this waste contains significant volumes of Elium resin, which we want to recover® and reuse.” Hence the importance of demonstrating the feasibility of recycling processes to specialist operators, as well as their financial viability. ■ * Zero wastE Blade ReseArch – MMATwo inset 11