Articles
NUS Aircraft Composite-Waste Aerogel Research 2026
NUS researchers developed a method to turn difficult-to-recycle carbon-fibre epoxy composite waste into aerogels for potential insulation, sound absorption and oil-spill clean-up applications.
NUS Aircraft Composite-Waste Aerogel Research 2026
Waste challenge and material
NUS researchers developed a method to reuse waste from carbon-fibre epoxy composites used in aircraft and other high-performance structures. The study, led by NUS's Department of Mechanical Engineering, was published in Waste Management on 29 June 2026 and described by NUS on 19 August 2026. (NUS, 19 August 2026, accessed 5 September 2026.)
Aerogel production
The team mechanically processed the composite into fine powder and short fibre fragments, mixed them with carboxymethyl cellulose as a cellulose-based binder, and freeze-dried the mixture to form an aerogel. The approach uses both the carbon-fibre and epoxy components, rather than recovering only the fibres; it is a research method and does not establish a commercial recycling plant or universal solution for all composite waste. (NUS, 19 August 2026, accessed 5 September 2026.)
Potential applications and boundary
NUS said the resulting aerogels could potentially provide thermal insulation, sound absorption and oil-spill clean-up materials. These are proposed application areas from research, not evidence of certified product performance, market deployment or regulatory approval. (NUS, 19 August 2026, accessed 5 September 2026.)
Record details
- Also known as
- ["NUS aircraft composite waste","carbon-fibre epoxy aerogel","aircraft waste recycling aerogel"]
- Jurisdiction
- SG
Dates describe this record’s own period and applicability. A verification date does not mean a rule is currently in force.
Sources
- Giving aircraft composite waste a second life Accessed 2026-09-05
Collection as of 2026-10-07 · An expanding collection. Published counts show available knowledge, not complete coverage of Singapore.