4 minute read
The Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) has won the prestigious Circularity Award at the 2025 Composites UK Industry awards, recognising its groundbreaking work to unlock the full potential of recycled carbon fibre.
CEAMS is an ongoing collaboration between NPL, the Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), the Henry Royce Institute, the National Composited Centre (NCC) and the University of Manchester. Everyone worked together and redefined what is possible with recycled carbon fibre, transforming it from a low-value byproduct into a high-performance material fit for next generation applications.
Carbon fibre is essential to sectors such as aerospace, transportation, energy, and hydrogen. Yet global demand is rapidly outpacing supply, and traditional recycling methods have struggled to deliver fibres suitable for high value manufacturing. All partners tackled this challenge head-on by building on a breakthrough to reclaim continuous carbon fibres from a hydrogen pressure vessel and use them in the manufacture of a new vessel.
NPL have developed novel in-line characterisation methods to provide verification of the mechanical properties of the recycled fibres. The scientists used Raman spectroscopy to demonstrate that structural properties of the fibres can be measured in-line as the recycled fibre is being unwound during recovery from the composite. By applying strain to the fibres, the modulus of the fibres can also be characterised, providing greater confidence to users of these materials. In addition to measuring the strength of fibres, NPL explored the best practice methods for characterising thermal and electrical properties which will be critical for both comparison to virgin fibres and to the commercialisation of these new materials.
This potential capability marks a major leap forward in circular innovation, enabling the reuse of carbon fibre in demanding sectors and reducing reliance on virgin materials. It also positions the UK as a leader in sustainable composites manufacturing.
Keith Paton, Senior Scientist at NPL, said: “This award is recognition of a truly collaborative project to address an urgent challenge in composite circularity. The expertise that each partner has brought has been essential for the successful delivery of this ongoing project.”
Ana Yong, Senior Scientist at NPL, said: “A highlight of this project was the opportunity to work as part of a consortium that allowed us to access and collaborate with talent from across the UK, while showcasing the important role that advanced metrology plays in any emerging material.”
The Composites UK Industry Awards was created in 2012 and since then, they have awarded companies and individual scientists/engineers for their work and innovation in materials, manufacture, design, health and safety, environmental/sustainability projects.
06 Nov 2025