Up-cycling end-of-use materials: Highly filled thermoplastic composites obtained by loading waste carbon fiber composite into fluidified recycled polystyrene

Abstract

Carbon fibers reinforced epoxy resins are used in a wide range of applications, such as automotive and aerospace industry. Because of their thermosetting nature, recycling at the end of the life cycle is a difficult issue. However, lack of recyclability poses environmental concerns to the use of these composite materials. In this article, a sustainable, cost-effective technological approach aiming at recycling postconsumer carbon fibers reinforced thermosets (CFRT) is proposed. Composites containing 50 and 70 wt% of CFRT particles were prepared by incorporating the filler fraction into a fluidified postconsumer expanded polystyrene matrix. A cold mixing approach consisting in the use of a low boiling solvent as a binder to guarantee the dispersion homogeneity on micro- and macroscopic level was set up. For comparison, analog composites were also prepared through melt mixing process. Morphological, mechanical, and thermal analyses allowed to prove the effectiveness of the cold mixing approach and to evaluate the influence of particle size on the performance of new recycled composites. Thermogravimetric analysis and thermal conductivity tests of samples highlighted further peculiarities of the cold mixing process. The approach proposed is an effective recycling technology for CFRT and could be extended to other postconsumer materials

From biowaste to bioresource: Effect of a lignocellulosic filler on the properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

“…On the other hand, flexural modulus (E t ) increased with the addition of LRR, and the modulus value of PHB30LRR was almost 40% higher than that of PHB. The flexural modulus in composites is mainly dependent on the modulus of each component and slightly sensitive to their mutual interfacial interactions [54,59]. Therefore, the inclusion of a rigid filler such as LRR particles is expected to induce a stiffness increase.…”

Integrated Technological Solutions for Zero Waste Recycling of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

“…In terms of new applications for the recovered NMF of PCBs, recent researches and patents demonstrated the feasibility of innovative emulsion technologies for the production of thermoplastic composites with high proportions of recycled fillers of various size and nature (organic and inorganic) [20,21]. By applying this methodology, powders of fibre-reinforced polymers such as NMF of PCBs can be emulsified and moulded in a thermoplastic matrix to obtain sheets or granules.…”

On recyclability of thermosetting polymer and wood dust as reinforcement in secondary recycled ABS for nonstructural engineering applications

“…24 Thermal conductivity of thermoplastic polymer has been improved up to 40% with the addition of wood fibers and corn straw fibers and also provides good interlocking bonding among particles. 25,26 The researchers investigated that reinforcement of copper, aluminum, and ceramics results in improved mechanical properties of PLA composite, whereas poor mechanical properties were obtained while reinforced with wood and carbon fiber due to poor adhesion between filaments as compared to virgin PLA. 27 Nikzad et al developed ABS composite to produce feedstock filament for FDM by taking 90% ABS and 10% iron powder to determine parameters such as temperature, pressure drop, and velocity.…”