Naples, Italy – October 2–3, 2025
The R-PETFOAM Project, led by CIDAUT, has entered a major new development phase. Our research team has successfully produced the first prototypes of structural foams made entirely from 100% post-consumer, mixed-color recycled PET (rPET) — a milestone that demonstrates the technical feasibility of circular, high-value materials derived from real waste streams.
These preliminary results were presented at the FOAMS® 2025 Conference, organized by SPE’s Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division, in the sunny city of Naples, Italy. The event gathered world-leading experts in polymer foaming to exchange knowledge on micro- and nanocellular structures, novel foaming agents, bio-based materials, and sustainable processing innovations.
We extend our thanks 🙌 to the organizers and participants of FOAMS® 2025 for providing an inspiring forum that continues to push the frontiers of polymer foaming technology.
New Foaming Infrastructure at CIDAUT
We are proud to announce that as of 2025, CIDAUT operates a unique extrusion foaming line dedicated to the continuous production of cellular thermoplastics, with a capacity of 10–15 kg/h.
This new capability is the result of several months of intensive interdisciplinary work, including:
- System design and installation: custom machine building, electrical modifications, and integration of an extruder extension, twin-screw configuration, advanced melt filtration, CO₂ injection, and a dedicated foaming die.
- Material development: optimization of raw material blends, intrinsic viscosity, melt strength, nucleation behavior, and compatibilization for mixed rPET streams.
- Process optimization: fine-tuning of CO₂ content, temperature profiles, pressure-drop rate, and shaping parameters to achieve stable, uniform foam structures.
These developments significantly expand CIDAUT’s R&D capacity to explore supercritical CO₂ foaming, recycled polymer circularity, and energy-efficient lightweight materials — key enablers for Europe’s transition toward a more resilient and competitive industrial ecosystem. 🇪🇺🧪🌍
CIDAUT and the R-PETFOAM project remain dedicated to advancing science-based circular materials, turning innovative foaming research into industrial solutions that combine performance, sustainability, and European competitiveness.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the European Research Executive Agency can be held responsible for them.
