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Reference - Optimisation of CFRP composite recycling process based on energy consumption, kinetic behaviour and thermal degradation mechanism of recycled carbon fibre

From CKN Knowledge in Practice Centre
Type Journal
Title Optimisation of CFRP composite recycling process based on energy consumption, kinetic behaviour and thermal degradation mechanism of recycled carbon fibre
Abstract Pyrolysis is a thermo-chemical method to recover clean fibres from carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite waste under oxygen-free conditions. To ensure the recovery quality and economic efficiency of reclaimed fibres, thermal decomposition of CFRP needs to be guided by the kinetic analysis. This paper investigates the kinetic behaviour of CFRP thermal decomposition at temperatures of up to 800 °C. A thermo-gravimetric method is used to monitor the thermal decomposition of CFRP samples during the pyrolysis process. The activation energies (E) required for different conversion fractions (α) are evaluated based on five different kinetic models: four Arrhenius-type model-free methods (Friedman, OFW, KAS and Starink) and one curve fitting method (Coats-Redfern). Pyrolysis of CFRP composite wastes show that the process consists of two stages, where majority of the polymer matrix (55%) is removed in the first stage of reaction. During stage one and up to 425 °C, lower heating rates successfully lead to higher conversion fractions with lower activation energies. Moreover, by investigating physical characteristics of the recycled fibres using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and conversion kinetics of the recycling process, it is shown that pyrolysis of the composite remains efficient until 425 °C and an oxidation process up to 550 °C is required to achieve high quality recycled carbon fibre (rCF) products. The outcomes of this research contribute to optimisation of process variables and development of highly efficient and cost effective CFRP recycling method using pyrolysis technique.
Accessed 2026-03-04
Authors
  • Hadigheh, S. A.
  • Wei, Y.
  • Kashi, S.
Date 2021-4-10
Pages 125994
Publisher Elsevier
Journal Journal of Cleaner Production
Volume 292
Websites
DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125994
ISSN 09596526
Keywords Activation energy, Arrhenius-type kinetic behaviour, CFRP recycling, Pyrolysis, Pyrolytic carbon, Thermal decomposition of matrix
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Welcome to the CKN Knowledge in Practice Centre (KPC). The KPC is a resource for learning and applying scientific knowledge to the practice of composites manufacturing. As you navigate around the KPC, refer back to the information on this right-hand pane as a resource for understanding the intricacies of composites processing and why the KPC is laid out in the way that it is. The following video explains the KPC approach:

Understanding Composites Processing

The Knowledge in Practice Centre (KPC) is centered around a structured method of thinking about composite material manufacturing. From the top down, the heirarchy consists of:

The way that the material, shape, tooling & consumables and equipment (abbreviated as MSTE) interact with each other during a process step is critical to the outcome of the manufacturing step, and ultimately critical to the quality of the finished part. The interactions between MSTE during a process step can be numerous and complex, but the Knowledge in Practice Centre aims to make you aware of these interactions, understand how one parameter affects another, and understand how to analyze the problem using a systems based approach. Using this approach, the factory can then be developed with a complete understanding and control of all interactions.

The relationship between material, shape, tooling & consumables and equipment during a process step


Interrelationship of Function, Shape, Material & Process

Design for manufacturing is critical to ensuring the producibility of a part. Trouble arises when it is considered too late or not at all in the design process. Conversely, process design (controlling the interactions between shape, material, tooling & consumables and equipment to achieve a desired outcome) must always consider the shape and material of the part. Ashby has developed and popularized the approach linking design (function) to the choice of material and shape, which influence the process selected and vice versa, as shown below:

The relationship between function, material, shape and process


Within the Knowledge in Practice Centre the same methodology is applied but the process is more fully defined by also explicitly calling out the equipment and tooling & consumables. Note that in common usage, a process which consists of many steps can be arbitrarily defined by just one step, e.g. "spray-up". Though convenient, this can be misleading.

The relationship between function, material, shape and process consisting of Equipment and Tooling and consumables


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The KPC's Practice and Case Study volumes consist of three types of workflows:

  • Development - Analyzing the interactions between MSTE in the process steps to make decisions on processing parameters and understanding how the process steps and factory cells fit within the factory.
  • Troubleshooting - Guiding you to possible causes of processing issues affecting either cost, rate or quality and directing you to the most appropriate development workflow to improve the process
  • Optimization - An expansion on the development workflows where a larger number of options are considered to achieve the best mixture of cost, rate & quality for your application.

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