Recyclable carbon fibre composites enabled by cystine containing epoxy matrices

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable materials in industry.
• Need for environmentally friendly solutions in composite manufacturing.
• Limitations of current composite recycling methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a process for creating recyclable carbon fibre composites.
• To investigate the recyclability of epoxy thermoset composites modified with a bio-based additive.
• To evaluate the performance of recycled carbon fibres over multiple cycles.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a commercial epoxy thermoset with a bio-based additive.
• Optimization of the matrix fractionation process (additive/solvent concentration, temperature).
• Repeated dismantling, reinfusion, and curing of carbon fibre composites (three cycles).

Main Results:

• Successful development of a recyclable carbon fibre composite using bio-based epoxy resin.
• Optimization of matrix fractionation parameters achieved.
• Demonstrated reusability of carbon fibres over three recycling cycles.
• Observed decrease in fibre volume fraction and composite performance with increased recycling.

Conclusions:

• The developed process enables the recycling and reuse of carbon fibre composites.
• Recycled carbon fibres can be reshaped, infused, and cured into new components.
• Further research is needed to mitigate performance degradation over multiple recycling cycles.