Covestro's annual presentation at K A number of new materials, recycling technology solutions supporting the key areas of circular economy and climate neutrality will be on display at 2022.

Climate-neutral raw materials for thermal insulation

Covestro mainly replaces raw materials with mass-balanced renewable precursors and plastic waste. For example, we offer a "cradle to door" climate neutral MDI. Sustainable MDI can be used in existing process technologies in the construction, refrigeration and automotive industries without any major changes.

In the case of refrigerators, it is important not only to further improve insulation, but also to have as much interior space as possible to store items, while reducing the external size of the refrigerator.

In this regard, PU vacuum insulation panel solutions made from sustainable MDI are more advantageous: they take up very little space, but have highly efficient insulation, while reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Even after reaching the end of its useful life, PU VIP can still reduce the carbon footprint: Thanks to the use of PU, the refrigerator is made of only a few different materials and thus easier to recycle.

Advanced mechanical and chemical recycling

Covestro will also be showcasing its technological advances in the recycling of used plastics at K 2022. The company has been focusing on proven mechanical recycling technologies, in which the chemical structure of the plastic is not changed, as well as chemical recycling processes, in which polymer molecules are chemically broken down.

Mechanical recycling is particularly suitable for PCS. Covestro's numerous mechanical recycling products are already on the market, including polycarbonate blends for IT products that contain up to 75% recycled material, in addition to products that use mass-balanced raw materials.

PU and other thermoset products generally cannot be mechanically recycled. A chemical recycling process is obviously required. As part of a research project with partners, Covestro has developed innovative technologies for the recovery of two core raw materials for PU mattress foam.

The two core materials are polyols and isocyanate TDI. The precursors are recovered from TDI, and both raw materials can be reused to produce new foams after treatment. The results achieved are being tested on a pilot facility at Covestro's plant in Leverkusen. Covestro has now introduced the Evocycle brand name for the project.