SPE presents environmental award to composites recycling technology

The Environmental Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers presented the 2004 award for New Technology in Materials and Processes to DuPont Engineering Polymers for its Composite Recycling Technology. Denso Corp. was also honored for assisting to validate the technology. The awards were presented last week at SPE’s annual Global Environmental Conference (GPEC) in Detroit.
DuPont’s Composite Recycling Technology is a closed-loop nylon recycling process that converts parts made of glass- or mineral-filled nylon 6 or nylon 66 into first-use quality material in a way that is economically viable and environmentally friendly. The process dissolves used polyamide then filters away contaminants and fillers. The molecular weight of the recovered polyamide is increased to whatever level is required for the final application. The process is said to generate resin that is essentially equivalent to virgin nylon.