Characterization of carbon fibers recovered through mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of waste carbon fiber reinforced plastics

Abstract

In this study, we present the characterization of the carbon fibers recovered from the mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of carbon fiber reinforced fibers. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of our modified recycling method on the interfacial properties of recovered fibers. The reinforced plastics were recycled; the recycling efficiency was determined and the recovered fibers were sized using 1 wt% and 3 wt% concentration of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. We characterized the morphologies utilizing the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), FTIR-attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although the surface of the fibers had no cracks, there was evidence of contaminations which affected the interfacial properties and the quality of the fibers. Results showed that the trends in the recovered and virgin fibers were similar with an increase in sizing concentration. The results highlighted the perspectives of increasing the quality of recovered fibers after the recycling process.

Keywords

recycled carbon fibers / fiber reinforced plastics / mechanochemical process / interfacial property / surface morphology

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