Making viable the recycling of carbon fiber/thermoset matrix composites. First elements of study

Abstract

Originally developed for high-tech applications, carbon/epoxy composites have been increasingly used in leisure and sports industries, for several years. Nevertheless, the carbon reinforcement is an expensive constituent, and it has been recently shown that it is also the most environmentally impacting in a composite part manufacturing. In this way, recycling these materials (even restricted to the reinforcement recovery) could lead to reduce economic and environmental inadequacies, while satisfying legislative requirements for their end-of-life. This article is the basis for a life cycle analysis that assesses benefits and environmental challenges of this recycling loop. The recovery of the carbon reinforcement (based on the solvolysis of the matrix by water under supercritical conditions) offers an average gain of 70% for all eco- indicators.