Fiber Layer Separation Using Curvature to Prevent Peel Damage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for recycling multi-layer fiber composite materials face challenges in efficiently separating fiber layers without damaging them, leading to a loss of mechanical performance and design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

Applying a controlled curvature to the fiber layer or composite material during separation, using mechanical gripping devices or rollers, to enhance bending stiffness and distribute stress evenly, allowing for higher peeling forces without fiber damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high peeling forces are applied to separate fiber layers, then separation efficiency is improved, but fiber damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidfiber integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a curvature to the fiber layer or composite material during separation, which enhances the bending stiffness of the material. This curvature modification allows higher peeling forces to be applied without causing fiber damage, thus resolving the contradiction between separation efficiency and fiber integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If curvature is applied to enhance bending stiffness, then higher peeling forces can be applied, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebending stiffnessVSAvoidseparation apparatus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The curvature is applied to the fiber layer or composite material before the separation process begins. This preliminary action of curving the material enhances its bending stiffness in advance, allowing the separation to proceed more efficiently without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the separation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If fiber layers are separated to enable reuse, then resource efficiency is improved, but separation process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial reuse capabilityVSAvoidseparation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By applying a curvature to enhance bending stiffness, the patent enables cleaner and more controlled separation of fiber layers. This approach facilitates the reuse of recovered materials while avoiding the need for overly complex separation processes, as the curvature simply modifies the mechanical properties of the material during separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4670942A1Apparatus and method for separating at least one fiber layer from a multilayer fiber composite material

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b

AI summary

There is disclosed a concept for separating at least one fiber layer 10 from a multilayer fiber composite material 13, wherein the fiber layer 10 is one of a plurality of fiber layers embedded in a matrix material of the fiber composite material 13, the method comprising applying, during a separation of the fiber layer 10, a curvature; 11 to the fiber layer 10 or to the multilayer fiber composite material 13 around an axis 16 parallel to a direction of crack propagation 12.