Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber

Disposing of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) has become a pressing issue due to their increasing application across various industries. Previous work has focused on removing silane coupling agent residues on recovered carbon fibers via microwave pyrolysis, making them suitable for use in ne...

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Main Authors: Kai-Yen Chin, Angus Shiue, Jhu-Lin You, Yi-Jing Wu, Kai-Yi Cheng, Shu-Mei Chang, Yeou-Fong Li, Chao-Heng Tseng, Graham Leggett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Fibers
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/12/106
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author Kai-Yen Chin
Angus Shiue
Jhu-Lin You
Yi-Jing Wu
Kai-Yi Cheng
Shu-Mei Chang
Yeou-Fong Li
Chao-Heng Tseng
Graham Leggett
author_facet Kai-Yen Chin
Angus Shiue
Jhu-Lin You
Yi-Jing Wu
Kai-Yi Cheng
Shu-Mei Chang
Yeou-Fong Li
Chao-Heng Tseng
Graham Leggett
author_sort Kai-Yen Chin
collection DOAJ
description Disposing of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) has become a pressing issue due to their increasing application across various industries. Previous work has focused on removing silane coupling agent residues on recovered carbon fibers via microwave pyrolysis, making them suitable for use in new materials. However, the mechanical performance and structural characteristics of these fibers have not been fully reported. This study investigates the time–temperature curves of CFRPs treated through microwave pyrolysis and analyzes the mechanical and structural properties of silane-controllable recovered carbon fibers. Additionally, emissions—including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate aerosols—were measured using handheld monitors and thermal desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the composition of fugitive gases around the microwave pyrolysis system. The pyrolysis process at 950 °C, with an additional 1 h holding time, reduced the crystallite size from 0.297 Å to 0.222 Å, significantly enhancing tensile strength (3804 ± 713 MPa) and tensile modulus (200 ± 13 GPa). This study contributes to more sustainable CFRP waste treatment and highlights the potential for reusing high-quality carbon fibers in new applications, enhancing both environmental and worker safety.
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spelling doaj-art-33882e32c8e247e4ae06f41d9f85ee362025-08-20T02:53:35ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392024-12-01121210610.3390/fib12120106Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon FiberKai-Yen Chin0Angus Shiue1Jhu-Lin You2Yi-Jing Wu3Kai-Yi Cheng4Shu-Mei Chang5Yeou-Fong Li6Chao-Heng Tseng7Graham Leggett8Department of Molecular Science and Engineering, Research and Development Center for Smart Textile Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanDepartment of Molecular Science and Engineering, Research and Development Center for Smart Textile Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanDepartment of Chemical & Materials Engineering, Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University, Taoyuan 335, TaiwanDepartment of Molecular Science and Engineering, Research and Development Center for Smart Textile Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanDepartment of Molecular Science and Engineering, Research and Development Center for Smart Textile Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanDepartment of Molecular Science and Engineering, Research and Development Center for Smart Textile Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanInstitute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, TaiwanLI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE 68504, USADisposing of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) has become a pressing issue due to their increasing application across various industries. Previous work has focused on removing silane coupling agent residues on recovered carbon fibers via microwave pyrolysis, making them suitable for use in new materials. However, the mechanical performance and structural characteristics of these fibers have not been fully reported. This study investigates the time–temperature curves of CFRPs treated through microwave pyrolysis and analyzes the mechanical and structural properties of silane-controllable recovered carbon fibers. Additionally, emissions—including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate aerosols—were measured using handheld monitors and thermal desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the composition of fugitive gases around the microwave pyrolysis system. The pyrolysis process at 950 °C, with an additional 1 h holding time, reduced the crystallite size from 0.297 Å to 0.222 Å, significantly enhancing tensile strength (3804 ± 713 MPa) and tensile modulus (200 ± 13 GPa). This study contributes to more sustainable CFRP waste treatment and highlights the potential for reusing high-quality carbon fibers in new applications, enhancing both environmental and worker safety.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/12/106CFRP wasterecovered carbon fibers (rCFs)thermal desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD–GC/MS)fugitive gas emissionsmicrowave-assisted pyrolysisaerosols
spellingShingle Kai-Yen Chin
Angus Shiue
Jhu-Lin You
Yi-Jing Wu
Kai-Yi Cheng
Shu-Mei Chang
Yeou-Fong Li
Chao-Heng Tseng
Graham Leggett
Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber
Fibers
CFRP waste
recovered carbon fibers (rCFs)
thermal desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD–GC/MS)
fugitive gas emissions
microwave-assisted pyrolysis
aerosols
title Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber
title_full Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber
title_fullStr Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber
title_full_unstemmed Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber
title_short Carbon Fiber Recycling from Waste CFRPs via Microwave Pyrolysis: Gas Emissions Monitoring and Mechanical Properties of Recovered Carbon Fiber
title_sort carbon fiber recycling from waste cfrps via microwave pyrolysis gas emissions monitoring and mechanical properties of recovered carbon fiber
topic CFRP waste
recovered carbon fibers (rCFs)
thermal desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD–GC/MS)
fugitive gas emissions
microwave-assisted pyrolysis
aerosols
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/12/12/106
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