INDUSTRY News
UK team successfully recycles reclaimed continuous carbon fi bres
In a UK first, engineers at the National Composites Centre (NCC) have successfully reclaimed continuous carbon fibres from a pressure vessel and re-used them in manufacturing a new one. The process is a significant milestone in the development of Britain’s hydrogen capability. Demand for carbon-fibre is expected to grow five-fold between 2025 and 2030, exceeding the global manufacturing capacity. Creating viable, low-cost recovery processes that leaves the continuous carbon fibres’ strength intact for recycling is therefore key to the development of the hydrogen economy.
Since gas has low energy density, it needs to be compressed and stored at very high pressures, between 350 and 700 bar (5,076-10,152psi). This makes high-strength, lower-weight carbon fibre the material of choice, especially for hydrogen pressure vessels in vehicles such as cars or aircraft, where the power-to-weight ratio is critical.
Until recently, recycling processes for composite components such as aircraft wings and wind turbine blades has resulted in short fibres with lower mechanical properties than virgin fibre. Whilst there are applications for this material, it is not suitable for re-use in high-performing products.
The NCC partnered with Lancashire-based B&M Longworth, and used its DEECOM process, which was originally developed to remove waste polymers from filters and production equipment. The process uses superheated steam under compression, to penetrate microscopic fissures in the composite’s polymer, where it then condenses. On decompression, it boils and expands, cracking the polymer and carrying away broken particles. Crucially, the DEECOM process leaves the primary component material intact and undamaged, allowing for any length to be retained. The NCC engineers then cooperated with Cygnet Texkimp, a Cheshire-based company that deals with fibre and its conversion technology, to use the reclaimed continuous carbon fibre to make a new pressure vessel using filament winding.
ABB COLUMN DO THINGS BETTER WITH ROBOTS
Offering the potential for faster, consistent and more-efficient production, today’s robotic solutions are proven to boost productivity and flexibility in manufacturing and logistics applications, making them ideal for addressing many of the structural weaknesses revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the current uncertainties affecting trade and the global supply chain.
As robotic hardware, software and AI technologies combine,
robots are increasingly being used to achieve highly-automated end-to-end manufacturing. The availability of options including low- payload cobots and fast-picking Delta robots through to modular solutions and complete cells for handling multiple operations, plus automated mobile robots (AMRs) are helping manufacturers move their production lines to highly-efficient, seamless automation. Globally, this joined up approach to production is seeing a steady growth in the adoption of robotics and automation, with a variety of industries, including automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, electronics, logistics and construction looking for ways to integrate robots into their operations. The benefits of robots aren’t just limited to larger companies
either. Innovations such as cobots and simplified programming and user interfaces are directly addressing the affordability and complexity concerns that have deterred many SMEs from investing in robotic automation, providing them with an easy and scaleable path for learning how to integrate robotic automation into their operations. Cobots especially, enable inexperienced users to tackle the ‘low hanging fruit’ of simpler applications and use the experience gained to develop their understanding of what can be achieved with more complex setups. Ultimately, doing things better with robots means being able to do things better with your people, too. With the ability to handle an expanding range of tasks, and work consistently around the clock, robots can play a major role in enhancing working environments and productivity. In many cases, this allows companies to make better use of their existing skilled workforces, by using robots either to take over lower value or dirty and more dangerous tasks or to provide additional much needed production capacity. To find out how you could do things better with robots, email us at
robotics@gb.abb.com or call 01908 350300. Nigel Platt LBL Manager, UK and Ireland, ABB Robotics
AUT-NOV21-BRITISH ENCODER:AUT-NOV21-BRITISH ENCODER 26/10/2021 13:52 Page 1
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | June 2022
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