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.

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 and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus selects, or is controlled to select, between using an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom and, depending upon the type of pre-preg waste, using a reactor environment where the reactor atmosphere has about 1% to about 2% oxygen by volume. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

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.

A method for separating composite materials and mixtures, in particular solid-material mixtures and slags, and to a device for carrying out said method. The method for separating composite materials and mixtures comprises the step of transporting the composite material or the mixture through a separating device. The composite material to be separated or the mixture to be separated is excited by mechanical impulses as it passes through the separating device and is thereby separated. The device (1) for carrying out the method comprises a drive unit (21) for driving a rotor element (32), which is connected to a bearing/shaft unit (22) and which is part of a rotor unit (31). The rotor element itself has at least one rotor tool (33) and each rotor tool has at least one rotor tool component (34) and is surrounded by a stator element (42), which is part of a stator unit (41). The stator element itself has at least one stator tool (43) and each stator tool has at least one stator tool component (44). The rotor element and the stator element are substantially cylindrical.

A processing method according to the present embodiment is a processing method of a fiber containing resin in which fibers are contained in a matrix resin. The processing method includes: a step of thermal decomposition of the matrix resin in the fiber containing resin; and a step of stirring a resulting fibers bundle in solvent after the thermal decomposition. At the time of the thermal decomposition, the matrix resin may be carbonized in a dry distillation-carbonization furnace, for example.

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.

A method and apparatus for purifying and recycling synthetic turf are provided. The method includes removing a section of used synthetic turf, feeding the section to a rotating beater to knock sand infill loose, and passing the section through a rotating brush roll wherein a turf filament surface is directly contacted by the rotating brush roll to knock any entrained infill material loose from the section of used synthetic turf.

An aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for recycling-compatible pressure-sensitive adhesive labels is described. The adhesive composition comprises (A) a pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer made by emulsion polymerization of acrylic acid alkyl ester monomers and further monomers, and (B) a tackifier with a glass transition temperature of less than 5? C. Also described are recycling-compatible pressure-sensitive adhesive labels, packaging containers labelled with said labels and a method of recycling said labelled packaging containers.

Machine for extracting a cord made of metal material from a sidewall of a tire, being part of the sidewall and defining a support structure of said tire, including: a frame; support means for the tire configured to support said tire resting on one sidewall in a loading zone; a hook for extracting said cord from the sidewall of the tire; means for manipulating said hook, configured to manipulate the hook with respect to the frame in an extraction direction between a position for engagement with said tire in the loading zone and a position for disengagement from said tire and extraction of said cord; a command and control unit to command said means for manipulating the hook,: an element able to move with respect to the frame to detach the cord from the hook when the hook is in position for disengagement; and means for manipulating the movable element, to manipulate the movable element from a first position to a second position to carry out releasing of the cord from the hook.