The invention relates to an extruder (30) comprising a housing (31), a first material inlet (32) for a mixture (46) at least consisting of a solvent and a dissolved medium, a material outlet (33), a screw (35), a screw drive (34), and at least one distillation region (36a-d) between the inlet (32) and the outlet (33), which allows an outflow of solvent, and a discharge line (43-45) for the solvent.

Methods and apparatus for treating a mixture of fiber and granules are provided. The method includes passing the mixture through a friction zone comprising a conveyor belt that moves mixture and a friction device comprising a stationary surface in contact with a surface of the mixture. The method includes applying pressure to the mixture with the friction device to generate friction such that at least 5% of the fiber in the mixture is rotated. The method includes forming an agglomerate that is larger than the granules in the mixture.

The present invention provides a method of promoting separation of polymer bonded to a substrate of different material, which collectively form at least part of a polymer composite structure, the method comprising: (1) contacting the polymer composite structure with a composition comprising organic solvent which is absorbed within one or both of the polymer and substrate, wherein the composition comprising organic solvent does not dissolve either the polymer or the substrate, and (2) contacting the polymer composite structure provided in step (1) with liquid (i) having a temperature higher than the boiling point of the composition comprising organic solvent used in step (1), and (ii) that does not dissolve either the polymer or the substrate, the action of which promotes separation between the polymer and the substrate.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for recovering fibers from fiber reinforced polymers wherein the fiber reinforced polymer is contacted with a Lewis base for a time sufficient to allow at least partial depolymerization of the polymer.

An extruder including a housing, a first material inlet for a mixture at least consisting of a solvent and a dissolved medium, a material outlet, a screw, a screw drive, and at least one distillation region between the inlet and the outlet, which allows an outflow of solvent, and a discharge line for the solvent.

A method of aerobic depolymerization of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites using sustainable reagents and conditions. A cured matrix is digested into soluble monomers and oligomers by catalytic aerobic oxidation. Carbon fibers are removed for re-use, then the remaining material is treated and valuable monomers are isolated. The isolated monomers can be converted back into resin precursors for re-use. The method solves the problem created because the typically irreversible cure reaction impedes recycling and re-use of FRP composites.

A method for manufacturing a water absorption treatment material made of a plurality of grains includes a preparing step, a pulverizing step, a core portion forming step, and a coating portion forming step. The preparing step is a step of preparing a paper powder to which water-absorbent polymers adhere, the paper powder being derived from a sanitary product. The pulverizing step is a step of pulverizing remaining polymers using a pulverizer. The core portion forming step is a step of forming a core portion constituting each of the grains The coating portion forming step is a step of forming a coating portion so as to cover the core portion, the coating portion containing the paper powder, and the remaining polymers pulverized in the pulverizing step. In the pulverizing step, the remaining polymers left in a state of adhering to the paper powder are subjected to the pulverizer.

The invention relates to a method for separation of a polymeric article comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, and at least one other constituent, wherein said separation method comprises: a step of contacting the polymeric article with a liquid medium suitable for propagating shock waves, and a step of applying a pulsed field to the liquid medium, so as to generate shock waves capable of dividing the polymeric article at an interface between the thermoplastic polymer and the other constituent.

A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber is provided which involves: (1) immersing a carbon fiber composite material (CFC) in an acidic aqueous solution to elute at least a part of a resin component of the CFC, to thereby obtain a substantially fibrous product; and (2) immersing the substantially fibrous product obtained in step (1) in an alkaline aqueous solution to elute at least a part of a resin component of the substantially fibrous product, to thereby obtain a fibrous product. A method for manufacturing a carbon fiber reinforced resin composition is provided which involves manufacturing a carbon fiber by the above method and manufacturing a carbon fiber reinforced resin composition using the resulting carbon fiber. Using these methods, it is possible to recover and recycle a carbon fiber from a carbon fiber composite material (CFC) at a low cost without deteriorating the carbon fiber.

An organic material removing device includes: a container for storing a composite material containing an inorganic material and an organic material decomposable by a treatment liquid; a treatment tank including an accommodation portion for accommodating the container, a treatment liquid inflow portion for allowing the treatment liquid to flow in, and a treatment liquid outflow portion for allowing the treatment liquid to flow out; temperature control means for heating or cooling the treatment liquid; and a treatment liquid circulation means for allowing the treatment liquid to flow in from the treatment liquid inflow portion into the treatment tank and allowing the treatment liquid in the treatment tank to flow out from the treatment liquid outflow portion.