PROJECT

In this initial stage, the project focuses on obtaining high-quality secondary raw materials from textile and construction waste.

TEXTILE WASTE: Research will be conducted on the mechanical fiber opening process, involving the design of new opening cylinders aimed at minimizing fiber damage. This will enable the reintroduction of recycled fibers into conventional spinning processes with optimized performance.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE: LC3-type cement pastes will be developed by partially replacing clinker and aggregates with minerals recovered from demolition and quarry waste. Mechanical performance will be ensured through detailed microstructural analysis.

Using the secondary raw materials recovered in Phase 1, different multifunctional materials will be developed.

TECHNICAL TEXTILES: Yarns and fabric structures (woven, knitted, and nonwoven) with multifunctional properties, such as electrical conductivity, will be produced. Both the integration of intrinsically conductive fibers and surface functionalization through coatings with conductive materials, among other strategies, will be explored.

ADVANCED CEMENTITIOUS MATRICES: LC3 cement pastes will be functionalized by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) encapsulated within mineral matrices. This approach will endow the cement with thermal energy storage capabilities, enhancing its thermoregulatory performance.

In the final phase, the developments achieved in the previous stages will be integrated into specific products for the building sector.

COMPOSITES: Fiber-cement boards will be manufactured and characterized using a modified Hatschek process, combining nonwoven structures made from recycled fibers with functionalized LC3 cementitious matrices.

SMART SOLUTIONS: Prototypes will be developed for ventilated façades, thermally self-regulating pavements, and textiles capable of harvesting solar energy.

In this transverse phase of the project, a life cycle assessment (LCA) will be carried out, together with the determination of the eco-cost of each material developed, ensuring that the proposed solutions are environmentally sustainable.

Another cross-cutting phase of the project will focus on the management of the knowledge generated throughout the project and its effective transfer to industry, ensuring that the research delivers not only scientific impact but also tangible economic and social benefits.