October is not even halfway through, and three notable agreements highlight priorities across the composites industry. One focuses on wider adoption of composite rebar, another on graphene-enhanced prepregs, and the third on recycling end-of-life composite waste.
Here are the key details of each agreement and the objectives behind them.
1. ERC and ACMA Join Forces to Advance Composite Rebar Adoption
The European Rebar Council (ERC) and the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar and other composite reinforcement technologies. The agreement was announced on October 8, 2026, during the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX) in Atlanta, Georgia.
The organizations plan to exchange technical information and market data, work toward greater alignment between regional codes and test methods, and develop design guides, training programmes, and demonstration projects. The agreement also covers joint communication, governance, market development, and sustainable development.
For GFRP rebar manufacturers, technical performance alone does not guarantee acceptance in infrastructure projects. Engineers and specifiers also need reliable design guidance and clear testing requirements. Greater coordination between ERC and ACMA could help make technical guidance more consistent across regions. Existing codes and standards, however, have not been harmonized simply by signing the agreement.
2. First Graphene and Aeropreg Develop a Graphene-Enhanced Prepreg
First Graphene and Turkish prepreg manufacturer Aeropreg entered a three-year Development and Commercialization Agreement to develop carbon-fiber prepreg incorporating First Graphene’s PureGRAPH® technology. First Graphene will contribute its proprietary epoxy concentrates, while Aeropreg will apply its prepreg manufacturing and resin development capabilities.
The initial priority is to achieve controlled, repeatable graphene loading in the prepreg. The partners will then evaluate the material’s strength, durability, performance, and manufacturability. Subject to successful development and trials, they intend to progress toward commercial launch through Aeropreg’s sales channels in aerospace, automotive, marine, and sporting goods.
The companies have not disclosed specific performance improvements or a commercial launch date. Material testing and manufacturing trials will determine whether the formulation meets its intended performance and production requirements.
3. Aditya Birla Advanced Materials and ORSL Explore Composite Waste Recycling
End-of-life thermoset composites are difficult to recycle because their cured resin cannot simply be melted and reshaped, making material recovery dependent on suitable recycling processes.
On October 7, 2026, the Advanced Materials business of Aditya Birla Chemicals (Thailand) Limited signed an MoU with Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) to explore composite waste recycling and material recovery solutions.
The collaboration combines Aditya Birla’s materials and epoxy technology expertise, including its Recyclamine® technology, with ORSL’s waste-processing and recycling capabilities. The partners intend to evaluate recycling processes and potential pathways for recovering and reusing materials from composite waste.
The MoU does not establish that a particular recycling process has been validated or deployed at commercial scale. The companies have not disclosed recovery volumes, processing capacity, implementation timelines, or specific end uses for recovered materials.
The value of above three agreements will ultimately depend on the technical and commercial results they deliver.