Recycling of polymeric composites from industrial waste by pyrolysis: Deep evaluation for carbon fibers reuse

The use of polymeric composite on transport applications as reinforcement material has been increased due to the low fuel consumption when replacing heavier materials. It is estimated that 170,000 tons of polymeric composites will be discarded by 2025, and recycling processing for carbon fibers recovery is required to save primary energy and reduce waste. Among the current techniques, pyrolysis processing has been most effective. On the other hand, innovation must maintain the structure for reuse since physical and mechanical properties are important for recycled materials. For this reason, the goal of the present study was the recycling of polymeric composite by pyrolysis. The recovered carbon fibers were analyzed in SEM and EDS to verify surface defects compared with virgin carbon fibers. The effect of temperature, time, and atmosphere were investigated. Results showed that at 550 °C for 1 h, it was possible to obtain free carbon fibers from the polymeric matrix. After the pyrolysis process in this condition, the fibers had no pores, material fracture, and carbonization. This paper contributes to the widening and systematizing knowledge on effectiveness and understanding polymeric composites recycling for carbon fiber recovery, maintaining its structure for reuse.