Recycling of end-of-life thermoplastic composite boats

This paper discusses the recycling of thermoplastic composite materials in the context of boatbuilding. Work was carried out on the recycling of an experimental thermoplastic composite rigid inflatable boat, originally built by BVT Surface Fleet and tested in service by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It was found that a range of useful injection moulding materials could be prepared from the hull material of the craft, demonstrating that structural thermoplastic composites are recyclable in practice as well as in principle, and confirming that they are a sustainable alternative to thermosets.