Repurposing of synthetic fibres to produce specialised composites: Giving value to potential waste

聚合物纤维广泛应用于从非织造布到复合材料的各种环境中。它们还可以进一步组装成具有高机械阻力、化学稳定性以及密封和防水性能的柔性薄膜。这些膜非常适合用于包装、绝缘、过滤和建筑材料等。该项目旨在开发一种特殊的柔性聚合物薄膜的回收工艺。该项目的第一个目标是保留聚合物纤维的独特性质，从而增加回收过程的价值。第二个目标是这些纤维的原纤化和功能化，类似于当今纸浆和造纸工业所完成的工业任务。然后，个性化和功能化的纤维可以用来开发几个等级的专业纸。

Polymeric fibres are used extensively in a wide variety of settings, from nonwovens to composites. They can further be assembled to form thin flexible membranes with high mechanical resistance, chemical stability, as well as airtight and waterproof properties. These membranes are then ideally suited for use in packaging, insulation, filtration and building materials, among others. This project aims to develop a specific recycling process of thin flexible polymeric membranes. The first goal of the project is to retain the unique nature of the polymeric fibres, thus adding value to the recycling process. The second goal is the fibrillation and the functionalization of these fibres, akin to what is nowadays industrially accomplished in the pulp and paper industry. The individualized and functionalized fibres can then be used to develop several grades of specialty papers.