Arkema to Advance Circular & High-Performance Composites at JEC World 2026

Transportation, aerospace, marine, hydrogen storage and sports industries are accelerating the adoption of lightweight composite materials that combine performance, recyclability and reduced carbon footprint. At JEC World 2026 (10-12 March 2026), Arkema presents specialty materials designed to address circular economy requirements and high-performance demands across these sectors.

Visitors can meet Arkema at Booth U40 – Hall 5, where the company showcases innovations spanning recyclable thermoplastic resins, biobased polyamides, carbon fiber tapes and high-temperature polymers.

Advancing composite circularity with recyclable thermoplastic resins
Arkema highlights Elium^® thermoplastic resin technology, developed to enable the recycling of composite parts. Unlike traditional thermoset resins, Elium^® is a liquid thermoplastic resin that can be processed using conventional composite manufacturing methods while allowing end-of-life recovery and recycling.

A boat hull component manufactured with Elium^® resin will illustrate composite recycling pathways enabled through partnerships with Composite Recycling, Groupe Beneteau, Veolia, Owens Corning and Chomarat. The collaboration demonstrates industrial-scale processes for recovering fibers and materials from composite structures.

In addition, the ZEPHIR project presents a speed board designed using Elium^® resin in high-performance infused composite structures. The project brings together industrial and research partners to combine athletic performance with recyclability in advanced composite design.

Enabling disassembly and vehicle recycling
Through its adhesive solutions division Bostik, Arkema introduces Primer Prep DB, a thermally activatable primer developed to support vehicle repair and end-of-life disassembly. The technology allows bonded components to be separated through controlled heat activation, reducing damage to adjacent materials.

This approach addresses challenges in automotive recycling and repair, where conventional structural adhesives can complicate component separation. By facilitating disassembly, the solution supports circular economy strategies in mobility applications.

Biobased polyamides and hydrogen storage composites
Arkema presents its 100% biobased Rilsan^® Polyamide 11 for composite applications in transportation, sports and consumer goods. Derived from renewable feedstock, PA11 contributes to reduced fossil carbon dependency while maintaining mechanical performance required for structural applications.

In hydrogen storage, high-pressure tank liners made from Rilsan^® PA11 illustrate the use of biobased polymers in type IV and emerging type V vessel architectures.

UDX^® unidirectional carbon fiber tapes, impregnated with bio-based PA11 and PPA thermoplastic polymers, are designed for applications in transportation and hydrogen storage. Under the European Roadthrypp program, Arkema collaborates with Air Liquide and Covess to develop next-generation type V high-pressure vessels, integrating liner functionality directly within the composite structure. A section of a hydrogen tank manufactured using UDX^® tapes will be displayed at the booth.

High-performance polymers for next-generation aerospace
For aerospace structures, Arkema showcases Kepstan^® PEKK, a semi-crystalline high-performance polymer engineered for thermoplastic composite aerostructures. The material provides high mechanical strength, chemical resistance and fire performance, while maintaining weldability suitable for high-rate production processes.

A composite profile manufactured by Hutchinson using Hexcel HexPly^® PEKK/34%/UD194/IM7 demonstrates the material’s integration into advanced aerostructure components.

Arkema also presents Zenimid™ polyimide films developed through PI Advanced Materials. These films operate across an ultra-wide thermal range from approximately –270°C to over 400°C and offer dimensional stability, chemical resistance, flame resistance and electrical insulation. Such properties make them suitable for aerospace, automotive, electronics and industrial composite systems exposed to extreme environments.

At JEC World 2026, Arkema’s portfolio illustrates how recyclable thermoplastic resins, biobased polymers and high-temperature materials can contribute to lightweighting, durability and circularity across demanding composite applications.

www.arkema.com