Technological watch

Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries. CFRP prepregs (intermediate products) are generally used in CFRP production, with a large number of prepreg cut?offs being discarded during cutting processes. There is strong demand for a method for recycling carbon fiber prepreg cut?offs. This paper proposes a method for recycling such material, which is characterized by low cost and high added value, in order to foster the development of a recycling?oriented society. We prepare carbon tapes (CTs) by cutting discarded cut?offs according to their size so as to maximize fiber length. Using a simple water CT dispersion method, we fabricate uniform CT sheets and mold a recycled CT?reinforced composite (R?CT?RC). Sample prototyping and mechanical characteristic testing indicate that this R?CT?RC is characterized by low recycling cost and desirable mechanical properties. Recycled CT?reinforced composite with thermoplastic (R?CT?RC/TP), which is prepared by adding thermoplastic resin between CTs, can be re?molded and therefore readily re?recycled.