Recycling of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics Using Subcritical Water

Abstract

The decomposition of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) was carried out to recover phenolic monomers and carbon fiber (CF) using subcritical water. The total yield of phenolic monomers reached 70.9% at 673K, 20MPa, 45min and 2.5wt% potassium carbonate catalyst. The tensile strength of the recovered CF was about 15% lower than that of a virgin one and it might be acceptable level for industrial use such as filler in polymers. The functional groups on the surface of the recovered CF decreased, comparing with a virgin one. Therefore the oxidation treatment of the recovered CF might be required, when we try to reuse it.

Recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic using supercritical and subcritical fluids

“…We investigated the CFRP recycling using subcritical and supercritical water by batch-type experimental setup [18,19]. In this case, the amine curing epoxy resin in CFRP was decomposed to phenolic monomers, and carbon fiber was recovered.…”

Carbon fiber extraction from waste CFRP by microwave irradiation

“…The strength of the extracted fiber was compared to that of fiber extracted using two conventional methods: incineration and supercritical-water method. The conditions for incineration and supercritical-water extraction were taken from previous studies [13,14]. The incineration extraction was conducted at 873 K for 30 min with air flow rate of 40 L/min.…”

A review on the recycling of waste carbon fibre/glass fibre-reinforced composites: fibre recovery, properties and life-cycle analysis

“…In recycling CF using water at CC, catalysts play an important role in boosting the resin decomposition ratio [126]. To analyse, this phenomenon, Okajima et al [132] investigated the resin degradation with a catalyst (2.5 wt% potassium carbonate) and without a catalyst using subcritical water as a solvent. The catalyst process had a better outcome with only a 15% tensile strength decrease of rCF compared to vCF.…”