A research team from UT Austin, Sandia National Labs, and partners has shown a way to break down poly(dicyclopentadiene) (pDCPD), a thermoset plastic used in fiber-reinforced composites. The method uses a ruthenium catalyst and a solvent called CPME at ambient temperature and without an inert atmosphere. That dissolves the resin and leaves glass or carbon fibers intact for reuse. Thermoset composites are notoriously hard to recycle, so most end up incinerated or landfilled. This approach could cut CO2 emissions by avoiding incineration and reducing the need for new fiber production. The open question is economics, specifically whether the ruthenium catalyst can be recovered efficiently at industrial scale. The team says it is now working on scale-up and catalyst recovery.
