Researchers at Empa, working with industry partner Elantas, have developed a new composite material combining fire resistance, lightweight performance and full recyclability. The development, announced today, was carried out within an Innosuisse-supported project.
Designed particularly for aircraft and train interiors, the material features a sandwich structure with an aramid honeycomb core, covered by woven glass or carbon fibre layers and bonded with epoxy resin.
The key innovation is a phosphorus-containing additive developed for the epoxy resin, making it both flame-retardant and recyclable. Using a suitable solvent and heat, the sandwich can be separated into its individual components, enabling recovery of the honeycomb and fibre reinforcement. Researchers also plan to investigate recovery of the epoxy itself.
According to Empa, the new material complies with fire safety requirements while achieving mechanical properties close to conventional epoxy systems. The next step will be to scale up manufacturing and recycling processes and explore applications in other industries.
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01 September 2026
