Technical Fibre Products (TFP, Cheshire, U.K.), which is part of the James Cropper group, has been working with recycled carbon fiber for more than 15 years, developing the experience to manufacture a high-quality veil using fiber reclaimed from the composites manufacturing supply chain. The resulting veil can be reused in composites, effectively closing the loop and providing a viable route for the recycling of fibers previously considered as waste.

“Creating future focused and environmentally friendly solutions for the composites industry is a priority for TFP,” says Mike Campbell, VP of sales at TFP. “Our goal is to proactively help our customers achieve both their technical and sustainability goals, and our extensive experience in working with recycled carbon [fiber] has enabled us to do just that; we are delighted to introduce our new range of high-performance nonwovens made both from composites and for composites.”

The recycled carbon fiber veil is part of TFP’s sustainable nonwovens range, designed to improve the finish, fabrication or functionality of a composite while simultaneously enabling customers to demonstrate environmental responsibility without compromising on performance or quality. The veil can be used in a range of applications, such as aerospace interiors, sporting goods and automotive and advanced air mobility components, and has already been used to manufacture composite parts with excellent results, the company says.

Like its traditional Optiveil range, its recycled nonwovens can be integrated into a composite as a surfacing or semi-structural layer, providing a number of solutions. Typical properties include enabling a high-quality resin rich surface finish, as well as imparting electrical conductivity, and high temperature and chemical resistance.