Boeing

Composite Material Recycling

Aerospace carbon fiber composites provide major performance and weight benefits, but managing composite waste remains an industry-wide sustainability challenge. This project addressed that limitation by exploring a circular use path for aerospace-grade composite waste at the UW Advanced Composites Center. Expired uncured slit tape tow remnants and out-of-spec spools were processed into a bulk molding compound, which was then formed into thin composite panels for inspection and mechanical evaluation. The project examined whether waste-derived material could be converted into a usable composite form and assessed panel quality, including visible flaws and material performance, for potential use in downstream consumer markets. This capability supported investigation of a more sustainable route for repurposing aerospace composite waste rather than treating it solely as scrap.