Second life for aircraft cabins: Chemical recycling of fiber-reinforced thermosetting composites

Phenolic resin based fiber-reinforced composites are used for lining elements of aircraft cabins due to safety, weight, and comfort requirements. However, because the matrix of these composites is cross-linked, they are difficult to recycle. Now, a chemical process for the recycling of polycyanurates has been adapted to the treatment of phenolic resin materials as well.