TITLE:
Pyrolytic Recycling of Carbon Fibers from Prepregs and Their Use in Polyamide Composites
AUTHORS:
Stephan Schwarz, Thomas Höftberger, Christoph Burgstaller, Andreas Hackl, Clemens Schwarzinger
KEYWORDS:
Carbon Fibers Composites, Mechanical Properties
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Composite Materials,
Vol.10 No.4,
August
10,
2020
ABSTRACT: Carbon fibers composites are well-known as high tech materials but are also recognized
as a problem after use as they have to be deposited in landfills. Pyrolysis is
an attractive process for recycling carbon fibers from used composites as well
as offcuts from prepregs. Pyrolysis of carbon fiber composite prepregs is
carried out in a pilot plant with a single screw reactor. The pyrolysis
products, carbon fibers and pyrolysis vapor are fully characterized. Variation
of pyrolysis temperature is carried out to obtain carbon fibers with the best
possible surface properties. In order to compare the mechanical properties of
the recycled carbon fibers with virgin material, composite materials with
polyamide are produced and their properties compared.