A1-01 Research and development of a plastic information distribution platform that contributes to the expansion of the circular economy markets.
Collaborating Organization
TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Research and Development Overview
Developed countries, particularly in Europe, are accelerating their efforts toward realizing a circular economy. In Japan, there is an urgent need to develop mechanisms and systems to support a circular economy. This research and development project will develop a plastics information distribution platform (PLA-NETJ) that manages and visualizes the flow of recyclable materials, including material development, product manufacturing, distribution, collection, and sorting related to plastics.
Toray conducts the demonstration and field experiments of the thermoplastics and thermoset plastics manufactured by Toray.
Based on the knowledge gained from the demonstration and field experiments, we will develop new R&D methods for recycling materials and the new cascade recycle technology for thermosetting plastics including CFRP.
Progress and Achievements
- Toray started demonstration and field experiments of PLA-NETJ, which assumes five processes: waste material collection, pre-treatment (crushing), chemical treatments, reproduction and remolding process.
- Toray conducted the prediction of the physical properties of recycled materials and the calculation of their carbon footprint (CFP) and confirmed that these can be predicted with high accuracy.
Fig.1 The prediction of the physical properties
- Instead of conventional CFRP recycling which is the extraction of CF by removing matrix resin, Toray developed the new cascade recycle technology for CFRP.
- Toray conducted accelerated environmental testing simulating actual usage conditions and confirmed that there was no degradation in performance even after 10 years outdoors.
Fig.2 Result of Environmental Resistance Test