1. Mild chemical recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites in aqueous buffers and development of hydrothermally recyclable vitrimer composites from recyclates.
- Author
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Hao, Cheng, Zhao, Baoming, Shao, Lin, Cao, Yiding, Fei, Mingen, Liu, Wangcheng, Liu, Tuan, Chang, Yu-Chung, Simmons, Kevin L., and Zhang, Jinwen
- Subjects
CHEMICAL recycling ,FIBROUS composites ,CARBON fiber-reinforced plastics ,CIRCULAR economy ,BUFFER solutions - Abstract
• Eco-friendly recycling of CFRP composites in aqueous buffer solutions under mild conditions. • Straightforward separation of catalyst solution, decomposed resin and carbon fibers. • Innovative upcycling of CFRP waste by transforming decomposed matrix into recyclable vitrimers. • Fabrication of hydrothermally recyclable CFRP from waste, reinforcing the loop towards zero waste. • Pioneering a sustainable method contributing to a circular economy for CFRP. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have gained widespread adoption across diverse industries. However, their inherent stability, stemming from the crosslinked structure of the matrix resin, poses a significant challenge in managing the growing volume of CFRP waste. Consequently, there is a pressing need for an eco-friendly upcycling method that effectively recovers and reuses both the valuable carbon fibers and the polymer matrix from CFRP waste. This study presents a novel approach for upcycling CFRP waste under environmentally friendly conditions. Firstly, CFRP waste with an amine-cured epoxy matrix was completely decomposed in aqueous buffer solutions under mild conditions (≤ 220 °C, pH = 4.8). Further, decomposed matrix polymer (DMP) was employed to transform conventional epoxy resins into recyclable vitrimers. Lastly, new composites that can be hydrothermally recycled were fabricated using both DMP and recovered carbon fibers. This work proposes a novel strategy for achieving a circular economy within the CFRP industry. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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