Worldwide, about 50,000 tons of paramid fibers are produced annually to reinforce plastics and to manufacture textile protective clothing. So far, the resulting production wastes can be recycled only at low levels and in a very energy consuming way. The aim of the project at the Thuringian Institute of Textile and Plastics Research (TITK) is to replace the primary fiber content completely with recycled aramid fibers. The reuse of the fibers has been tested with a die cast component for fan wheels in a so-called »pull-drill procedure« which uses card slivers from staple fibers.

The slivers are twisted while heated, compacted and subsequently cooled. The procedure was advanced that even high-quality recycled fibers from textile waste can be turned into long-fiber pellets. In a follow-up project, the company Voigt Systemtechnik GmbH (Großbreitenbach) has advanced a pull-drill-granules system facilitating the adjustable industrial processing of recycled aramid fibers to fiber pellets.

The innovative method is characterized by low energy consumption. Nevertheless, new types of long fiber granules with high-strength fiber components can be produced, which can be further processed into mechanically strong components for the lightweight construction.

Project Operation:
Thüringisches Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung e. V.
Breitscheidstraße 97
07407 Rudolstadt
Telefon 03672|379-0
info@titk.de
www.titk.de

Voigt Systemtechnik GmbH
Ilmenauer Straße 4
98701 Großbreitenbach
Telefon 036781|2525-0
info@voigt-systemtechnik.de
www.voigt-systemtechnik.de

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