Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has started a 32 month study to recycle carbon fiber prepreg scraps. The project aims to turn production waste back into usable aircraft components, potentially reducing the need for aluminum by 36 tons per year. Working with Swiss research institutions and Innosuisse, the company is testing a thermal process to remove the adhesive properties of scraps. This would allow the material to be cut and pressed into new parts, addressing a gap in current industrial aviation recycling methods.
