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Recycling of Sustainable Automotive Structural Composites via Pyrolysis, Technical and Climate Impact Evaluation
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Bioeconomy and Health, Biorefinery and Energy.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9126-0155
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Bioeconomy and Health, Biorefinery and Energy.ORCID iD: 0009-0009-8723-4857
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Bioeconomy and Health, Biorefinery and Energy. Division of Bioeconomy and Health, Biorefinery and Energy, Sustainable Resource Conversion, Research Institute of Sweden AB.ORCID iD: 0009-0001-3491-3567
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Materials and Production, Methodology, Textiles and Medical Technology.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2961-5933
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2026 (English)In: Clean Technologies, ISSN 2571-8797, Vol. 8, no 2Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Sustainable structural composites can significantly lower vehicle-related emissions. To evaluate the recycling of different composite materials, laboratory-scale pyrolysis was conducted and assessed both technically and environmentally. Two demonstrators were studied: a truck side skirt made from natural flax and hemp fibres with polypropylene (PP), and a car front header composed of glass fibres and PP. Additional materials examined included thermoplastic composites containing polyamide 6 (PA6), bio-based polyamide 11 (PA11) and thermoset polyester. Results showed that material type strongly influenced the pyrolysis outcome, product composition and recycling potential. Glass fibres could be recovered and reused as reinforced fibres, while natural fibres could be recovered as biooil for potential use in biofuel production. Polymers were recovered as pyrolysis products that, depending on their composition, can be used in different applications, from recovering monomers from PA6 to producing hydrocarbons that may replace naphtha (from PP) or aromatics (from polyester) in the petrochemical industry. Life cycle assessment (LCA) findings revealed that the climate impact of composite recycling is primarily driven by the environmental burdens of the recycling process itself and by the ability of recovered materials and chemicals to substitute conventional fossil-based alternatives. Efficient recycling pathways are therefore essential to maximising environmental benefits

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI AG , 2026. Vol. 8, no 2
Keywords [en]
composite, fibre, LCA, pyrolysis, recycling, sustainable, thermoplastics, thermosets
National Category
Composite Science and Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-81644DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol8020059Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105037627669OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-81644DiVA, id: diva2:2062488
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QC 20260526

Available from: 2026-05-26 Created: 2026-05-26 Last updated: 2026-05-26Bibliographically approved

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Johansson, Ann-ChristineNordsvahn, RebeckaSelander, AndréHammar, TorunJuntikka, Magdalena

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Johansson, Ann-ChristineNordsvahn, RebeckaSelander, AndréHammar, TorunJuntikka, Magdalena
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Biorefinery and EnergyMethodology, Textiles and Medical TechnologySustainable Materials and PackagingPolymers, Fibres and Composites
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