Aircraft recycling can offer high-grade materials
Aircraft have a working life of 20 to 30 years. Once they reach their end of life, they are generally either stockpiled in aircraft 'graveyards' or broken down, and their parts reused. Some parts, like the engine, undercarriage and some of the avionics, can be directly reused on other aircraft. Having removed all valuable components, the remaining fuselage is broken down into smaller pieces and materials are separated for recycling. Researchers working on the EU-funded project RASAC (Raman spectroscopy for identification of aerospace composites) sought effective ways to sort out polymer composites. Development of a miniaturised and yet high-precision Raman spectrometer will help make the identification and verification of such composite materials more effective and efficient. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique for non-destructive analysis through sealed containers. The portability of Raman spectroscopy renders this technology ideal for material identification in the field. Its combination with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), however, improved its specificity and sensitivity. Material recovery companies can now quickly retrieve materials and confidently put them through to production. In those cases where one technique is ineffective, the other complementary technique can solve the problem instead. For the development of a Raman-LIBS spectrometer, the researchers worked closely with the LIBSAC project team. Hundreds of recyclable materials are available in retired aircraft, and the RASAC project has provided the means to reclaim them. Recycling aircraft components can be a substantial source of raw materials for future aircraft and other applications, thereby reducing the aerospace industry's impact on the environment.
