Patch-Based Recycled Composites: Experimental Investigation and Modeling Techniques on Four-Point Bending and Curved...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Sustainable Manufacturing

Background:

• Composite materials demand has surged, leading to substantial waste from prepreg scraps (up to 35%).
• Effective recycling strategies are crucial to mitigate environmental impact and resource depletion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of recycling prepreg scraps into new composite sheets.
• To characterize the mechanical performance and failure modes of the recycled material.
• To develop numerical models for predicting the behavior of the recycled composite.

Main Methods:

• Cutting prepreg scraps into smaller patches and reassembling them into new sheets.
• Conducting mechanical testing (flexural and interlaminar strength) on recycled samples.
• Developing and validating numerical models to simulate material behavior and failure.

Main Results:

• Recycled samples retained 85% of original flexural modulus, 57% of strength, and 78% of interlaminar strength.
• Numerical models accurately predicted experimental data and failure modes under different loading conditions.
• The proposed recycling process is orderly and amenable to automation.

Conclusions:

• The developed technique effectively recycles prepreg scraps, recovering valuable material.
• The recycled material can be utilized as an 'equivalent lamina' in standard lamination processes.
• This approach offers a sustainable solution for composite waste management and component manufacturing.