AMRC and Prodrive to Manufacture Recycled Composite Components

Prodrive, a motorsports and advanced technology company, is conducting research on lightweight engineering and materials at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield to advance production processes for recyclable composite components that extend service life and reduce team costs. The collaboration in the P2T (Primary to Tertiary) project will enable the production of recyclable composite components that can meet the requirements of end-of-life products without compromising the performance of original parts. The process involves the use of a reactive thermoplastic resin rather than thermoset type. A plastic monomer reacts with a catalyst in the presence of fibers to produce a cured laminate. Since P2T composites do not require heat or pressure during manufacturing and do not need a pressure vessel, this will reduce production costs. Cost savings are also achieved through reduced tooling costs and shorter delivery times compared to existing metallic or composite solutions.