Development of New Thermoset Polymeric Composites Using Recycled CFRP Powder Mixture and Recovered CF

Voicu, Raluca; Condruz, Raluca; Vintila, Sebastian

Raluca Voicu, Raluca Condruz, Sebastian Vintila

Development of New Thermoset Polymeric Composites Using Recycled CFRP Powder Mixture and Recovered CF

Abstract:
The growing utilisation of carbon materials increases the waste generation. Therefore, the development of new composites using recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer (rCFRP) within the present study was driven by environmental and economic factors. Six configurations of new polymeric matrix composites were developed and evaluated by mechanical tests (flexural, compression and interlaminar stress), microscopic and thermal analysis. Four configurations of composites were obtained by filling the matrix with rCFRP powder and fibrous elements mixture, the reinforcement phase being produced by grinding carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) waste. The new composite configurations showed an increase in mechanical properties with rising the reinforcement fraction. The samples analyzed by stereomicroscopy reveled a fairly homogeneous distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix for 5%wt. up to 30%wt., whereas thermal analysis showed no significant changes in the glass transition temperatures of developed materials. Two configurations of composites were obtained by chemical etching of the matrix and recovering carbon fiber woven, used subsequently as reinforcement phase for new composite configurations. The same method was used for determining the volume fraction of CFRP composite constituents. Initial results demonstrate that recycled carbon remains a highly satisfactory engineering material. These results showed that recycled FRP composites can be used to develop new less demanding composite materials or improve some properties of FRP composites.

Keywords:
composite; recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer (rCFRP); mechanical tests; epoxy resin

Issue: 2016 Volume 53, Issue 2

Pages: 259-263

Publication date: 2016/6/30