ADVERTISING FEATURE Driving sustainability in the


global compounding industry How Apply Carbon’s comprehensive portfolio of mass-produced recycled and natural fibers is enabling the ecological transition in the plastics industry


The plastics industry finds itself at the forefront of significant changes, driven by growing concerns around climate change, an increased ecological awareness among consumers, and an evolving legislation targeting the CO2


footprint of


materials and end-products. To support the paradigm shift towards greener, more eco- responsible practices, the plastics industry is rapidly embracing more sustainable raw material options with a natural or circular economy origin.


An industry leader with decades of experience in sustainable fiber products, Apply Carbon (a daughter of Procotex Corporation) offers a broad portfolio of recycled carbon fibers, recycled aramid fibers, and a range of natural fibers – each offering unique attributes that are key to the development of advanced technical as well as bio-based plastic compounds.


Recycled carbon fibers


Renowned for its exceptional strength-to- weight ratio, carbon fiber is widely used as a reinforcement in compounds serving the automotive, aerospace, sporting goods or renewable energy sectors. Its production and disposal, however, pose significant environmental challenges, and virgin carbon fiber comes with a highly unfavorable CO2


footprint. Apply Carbon’s


recycled carbon fibers, on the contrary, are derived from reclaimed post-industrial or end-of-life composite waste. With a CO2 footprint reduction of 85% vs. virgin fibers, they present a compelling solution for minimizing the environmental footprint of high-performance structural or conductive compounds. A wide variety of milled, cut, granulated or pelletized and easy- to-dose product formats is available, with the appropriate sizing to ensure optimum compatibility with a vast range of polymers – from PP to PEEK.


PFAS-free solutions for sealing, friction & wear


“Recycled aramid fibers can offer a viable alternative to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) commonly used in compounds destined for sealing or tribological applications.” Bruno Douchy, Commercial Director, Apply Carbon


Recycled aramid fibers


Its outstanding strength, extreme durability, and unique chemical and heat resistance have made para-aramid fiber the material of choice for reinforced compounds exposed to the most severe conditions.


Applications include brake pads, seals, gaskets and clutch linings, as well as, increasingly, in non-corroding, low-noise plastic gears where aramid fiber imparts high durability, low friction and reduced wear compared to metal solutions.


To mitigate the high cost and constrained supply of virgin aramid fiber, Apply Carbon has developed a full range of dust-free and easy-to-disperse para-aramid products, that come with an attractive price and a 6x lower CO2


footprint.


Natural fibers Inherently CO2


Industrial capacity, uniform quality -negative, natural fibers


are ideal reinforcements for sustainable compounds. Their very low density as well as their unique sound absorption and vibration damping properties make them attractive candidates for applications where NVH performance is critical, as in automotive interiors. Apply Carbon supplies a wide range of natural flax as well as recycled flax, hemp, sisal, jute or coconut fibers. A growing application domain is the market for bio-based, eco-friendly compounds.


Sustainable fibers have long remained in the shadow of their virgin counterparts, for which demand had grown steadily over the years. Anticipating a surge in the demand for sustainable fibers, Apply Carbon has conducted a series of investments since 2011, all targeted at creating a robust, future-proof industrial supply of high-quality, cost-effective and sustainable products. Operating today from a hyper-modern and fully automated 16,500 m² factory in France, Apply Carbon serves customers globally with a portfolio of products that is key to a wide range of end-markets. With a nameplate capacity of 4,000 metric tons of fibers, a raw materials stock that exceeds 3,000 metric tons to ensure uniform quality and security of supply, and a highly energy-efficient production process, Apply Carbon is ready to support the global compounding industry as it transitions to more eco-friendly next-generation products and a more circular economy emerges. Sustainable fibers have now reached industrial maturity.


Sustainable solutions for e-mobility


“Offering the ideal combination of lightweight structural performance and antistatic or EMI-shielding properties, recycled carbon fiber compounds are a key enabler for e-mobility applications.” Hervé Cayuéla, Managing Director, Apply Carbon


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