Abstract
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components are known for their exceptional resilience and ultra-lightweight nature, making them the preferred choice for applications requiring high mechanical loads with minimal weight. However, the intricate and anisotropic structure of CFRP components poses challenges, resulting in expensive repairs and testing. This complexity also leads to increased waste generation. Yet, innovative recycling processes offer a solution by reintegrating carbon components into a closed material cycle, promoting sustainability and circular economy principles. This work focuses on recycled CFs (rCFs) obtained through a continuous recycling method for CFRP primary recyclate from composite pressure vessel. Furthermore, re-purposing of the separated matrix material for secondary energy sources makes the process, a 100% recycling route. This closed-loop approach addresses conventional pyrolysis challenges and contributes to more efficient utilization of CFRP waste components. rCF and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) polymers were compounded through an extrusion process. Test specimens were then fabricated according to standard test norms to evaluate the resulting tensile and bending properties. The tensile and flexural modulus of the rCF-rPET obtained are 6.80 and 4.99 GPa, respectively. The need for enhancing the quality of rCF is apparent. Suggestive and potential implications and the marketability of rCF-rPET compounds are also discussed.
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The data used in this study are proprietary and not publicly available. Access to the data can be obtained through a formal request to the corresponding e-mail address, subject to confidentiality agreements.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the anonymous referees for their useful suggestions and support. They would also like to thank Global EnerTec AG, Guben for supporting our work by providing us the sustainably recovered carbon fibers through their novel thermocatalytic degassing technology (GlobaTec) for the recovery of long carbon fibers. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the “Landkreis Spree-Neiße,” “Unternehmen Revier,” “WIR Lausitz,” and “Regionale Innovation Konzepte (RIK)” for the financial support. The authors would also like to acknowledge the former employee of the institute, Mr. Jonas Krenz for the idea and methodology development, previous investigations, and fund acquisitions during his time of employment.
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AH: literature review, writing—original draft, data curation, investigation; HS: funding acquisition, supervision; DH: literature review, writing, graphics, and editing; FK: conceptualization, supervision; MA: conceptualization, supervision; MM: conceptualization, supervision. Each author listed in this article has contributed significantly to the study and manuscript preparation, meeting the criteria outlined above. All authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.
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Hannan, A.N., Seidlitz, H., Hartung, D. et al. Sustainability and Circular Economy in Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics. Mater Circ Econ 6, 26 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-024-00111-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-024-00111-2