Composites, and especially carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs), are increasingly used in the automotive, aerospace, and aviation industries, and as a result, CFRP production has increased dramatically, leading to a corresponding increase in waste. Landfills and the incineration of waste are likely to be restricted as a result of legislation, thus highlighting the need for efficient recycling methods for CFRPs. However, the recycling of CFRPs is very challenging, mainly due to the difficulty of removing their thermosetting matrix. This study reports a pre-screening of the solvolysis recycling process for CFRPs based on the mechanical properties of the recovered fibers. To this end, solvolysis tests were conducted on unidirectional CFRP samples under supercritical and subcritical conditions using acetone and water. The solvolysis tests were conducted for various conditions of temperature, pressure, and reaction time, without the use of any catalyst. Also, the loading rate (volume of solvent/volume of reactor) was constant. The efficiency of the recycling processes has been evaluated through a morphological and a mechanical characterization of the recovered fibers. In most cases, the decomposition efficiency of the epoxy resin, measured in terms of mass, ranged between 90 and 100%. Moreover, the scanning electron microscopy images of the recovered fibers showed negligible traces of resin residues and no detectable signs of physical damage or any changes in morphology with regard to diameter. Finally, the single-fiber tension tests revealed that that the recovered fibers retained more than 61% of their initial Young's modulus and 70% of their tensile strength.
Keywords: acetone; carbon fibers; mechanical properties; recycling; solvolysis; water.