Composites for recyclability

Polypropylenes reinforced with oriented polypropylene fibers, so-called ‘all-PP’ composites, have specific economic and ecological advantages over composites based on glass fibers since, upon recycling, a PP-blend is obtained that can be reused to make all-PP composites or be used for other PP-based applications. Recent studies show the large potential of a newly developed manufacturing route for all-PP composites based on coextruded tapes. These tapes are highly oriented — providing high strength and stiffness — and are coated with a specially formulated, thin layer of PP, which seals the tapes together in a subsequent consolidation process. The material can be processed using a wide range of composite processing technologies including thermoforming, as well as filament winding.