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Upcycling carbon fibre wastes in solid-flames
Qingtan Ren1, Jie Sheng2, Jie Li3
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
Nature Communications
|January 20, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel solid-flames upcycling method to transform carbon fibre (CF) waste into valuable graphene-grafted CFs (GCFs) and graphene powders rapidly. This sustainable technique offers a promising solution for managing industrial CF waste.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Large volumes of epoxy-containing carbon fibre (CF) waste are generated annually.
- Current recycling methods focus on CF recovery, neglecting waste upcycling into higher-value materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient upcycling technique for epoxy-containing CF waste.
- To convert CF waste into graphene-grafted CFs (GCFs) and graphene powders.
Main Methods:
- A novel solid-flames upcycling technique utilizing magnesium (Mg) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) powders as reactants.
- Rapid conversion of CF waste within seconds using the Mg/CaCO3 solid-flames.
Main Results:
- Successful conversion of CF waste into GCFs and graphene powders.
- The Mg/CaCO3 solid-flames facilitate C-O bond disconnection and C-C bond interconnection, forming graphene-CF grafting microstructures.
- The process demonstrates superior sustainability metrics.
Conclusions:
- The solid-flames upcycling technique offers a viable strategy for the long-term management of accumulating CF wastes.
- The produced GCFs and graphene powders have potential applications in reinforced graphite composites and electromagnetic interference shielding.
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