Viabilisation du recyclage de composites à renfort carbone et matrice thermodurcissable. Premiers éléments d'étude

Abstract

Originally developed for high-tech applications, carbon fibre/thermoset matrix composites have been increasingly used in leisure and sports industries, for several years. Nevertheless, the choice of constituents (and more specially reinforcement) can actually be due more to subjective criterions, than to their high technical properties. Besides, it is well known that carbon reinforcement is the most expensive constituent, but it is also the most environmentally impacting in the elaboration of a composite part. In this way, recycling end-of-life composites (even restricted to the reinforcement recovery) could lead to reduce these technical, economic and environmental inadequacies, while satisfying legislative requirements for their end of life. However, making viable this recycling sector requires going beyond users’ reluctances. This article is the basis for a life cycle analysis, to assess benefits and environmental challenges of this recycling loop.