{"id":45890,"date":"2025-03-25T13:18:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T12:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/?p=45890"},"modified":"2025-03-25T18:31:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T17:31:04","slug":"the-future-is-circular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/the-future-is-circular\/","title":{"rendered":"The future is circular"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"45890\" class=\"elementor elementor-45890 elementor-45877\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6ea2203 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6ea2203\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f77c6a\" data-id=\"5f77c6a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-088d787 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"088d787\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c971213 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c971213\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">A snapshot of innovation activity and market participants in CFRP recycling<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d744f5 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6d744f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b391282 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b391282\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The growing adoption of carbon fibers, increasing <\/strong><strong>production capacities, and decreasing <\/strong><strong>manufacturing costs have significantly elevated <\/strong><strong>the importance of recycling carbon fibers <\/strong><strong>(CF) and CF-reinforced plastics (CFRP). In <\/strong><strong>this emerging market, the intellectual property <\/strong><strong>(IP) landscape has undergone substantial <\/strong><strong>changes over the past two decades.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0725c5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0725c5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>As the CFRP market matures and continues to grow, sustainability issues, particularly the circular economy and the creation of &#8220;second-life&#8221; products, have moved to the forefront. These developments are clearly reflected in patent filing data: since 2010, this technology sector has<br \/>experienced a remarkable annual growth rate of 13.6 % (CAGR) in patent filings.<\/p><p><strong>Dynamic growth in the innovation <\/strong><strong>landscape since 2010 <\/strong><\/p><p>An analysis of innovation activity in CFRP recycling (fig. 1) reveals a shift from a stable plateau (1) in the years before 2010 to a phase (2) of significant growth. Notably, this momentum has continued beyond 2022, indicating sustained innovation activity. A closer examination of the portfolios of major players shows how they are striving to define their positions in this emerging<br \/>market.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12d2465 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"12d2465\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fefe77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0fefe77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/whiteIP-Abbildung-1-768x558.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-45880\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/whiteIP-Abbildung-1-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/whiteIP-Abbildung-1-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/whiteIP-Abbildung-1-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/whiteIP-Abbildung-1.jpg 1321w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c096af9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c096af9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Fig. 1: Innovation development (number of applications)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91ae767 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"91ae767\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15ec79b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15ec79b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Market players and their strategies: <\/strong><strong>an innovation-market matrix analysis <\/strong><\/p><p>The patent landscape analysis (fig. 2) provides fascinating insights into the strategies and technological priorities of key market players. Clear differences in approaches and targeted positioning become evident.<\/p><p>Sinopec, one of the largest filers in this domain, focuses heavily on pyrolysis processes and the development of catalysts for this technology. Additionally, recycled materials are being advanced as raw materials for new products. In contrast, Mitsubishi Chemical pursues a different strategy: its focus lies in developing new CFRP products made from reclaimed fibers.<\/p><p>Toyota also plays a central role. As a leading automotive manufacturer in CFRP recycling, the company is building a growing patent portfolio for processes and recycled fibers specifically optimized for automotive applications.<\/p><p>In Germany, a similar trend can be observed: automotive companies are focusing on integrating<br \/>recycled fibers into their production processes and advancing fiber recovery from used materials. In the field of direct fiber recovery, research institutes such as Fraunhofer are shaping the field with high patenting activity and the development of novel technologies. Emerging technologies such as thermoplastic CFRP could offer new market entrants opportunities to position themselves in this rapidly growing technological field.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-881de9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"881de9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40564b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"40564b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1136\" src=\"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhiteIP_Abbildung-2-1536x1136.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536 wp-image-45882\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhiteIP_Abbildung-2-1536x1136.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhiteIP_Abbildung-2-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhiteIP_Abbildung-2-1024x757.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhiteIP_Abbildung-2-768x568.jpg 768w, https:\/\/composites-united.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhiteIP_Abbildung-2.jpg 1922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3749e4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3749e4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Fig. 2: Patent landscape analysis<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae3062f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ae3062f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e06525 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e06525\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) consist of carbon fibers (CF) embedded in a matrix, typically made of thermoset polymers. Recycling methods are diverse and range from chemical and mechanical to thermal processes. This brief report considers all methods, including<br \/>the recycling of reclaimed fibers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e2029d elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2e2029d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64908c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"64908c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Contact:<\/strong><\/p><p>white ip | patent &amp; legal GmbH, Dresden<br \/>Dr. rer. nat. Tristan Schuh\u00a0<br \/>Data Analyst | Patent Department<br \/>+49 351 896 921 40<br \/><a href=\"mailto:schuh@white-ip.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">schuh@white-ip.com<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.white-ip.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.white-ip.com<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A snapshot of innovation activity and market participants in CFRP recycling The growing adoption of carbon fibers, increasing production capacities, and decreasing manufacturing costs have significantly elevated the importance of recycling carbon fibers (CF) and CF-reinforced plastics (CFRP). In this emerging market, the intellectual property (IP) landscape has undergone substantial changes over the past two [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1],"tags":[],"main-cat":[144,36,34],"bildung":[],"forschungs-cat":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45890"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45890"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45924,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45890\/revisions\/45924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45890"},{"taxonomy":"maincategory","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/main-cat?post=45890"},{"taxonomy":"bildung","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bildung?post=45890"},{"taxonomy":"forschung","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/composites-united.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/forschungs-cat?post=45890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}