Boeing Launches Large-Scale Carbon-Fiber Recycling

Use of carbon-fiber composites in commercial aircraft reached a landmark 50% of structure weight with the Boeing 787, first flown in 2009, where the material allowed a more slender, lower-drag wing and higher cabin pressurization and humidity. Aluminum was reduced to 20%, but titanium boosted to 15%. The competing Airbus A350, flown in 2013, is 53% carbon-fiber by structure weight.
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