Author(s)

Stephan Schwarz¹, Thomas Höftberger², Christoph Burgstaller², Andreas Hackl³, Clemens Schwarzinger¹

¹Institute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
²Transfercenter für Kunststoffetechnik, Wels, Austria.
³Next Generation Elements, Feldkirchen, Austria.

Carbon fibers composites are well-known as high tech materials but are also recognized as a problem after use as they have to be deposited in landfills. Pyrolysis is an attractive process for recycling carbon fibers from used composites as well as offcuts from prepregs. Pyrolysis of carbon fiber composite prepregs is carried out in a pilot plant with a single screw reactor. The pyrolysis products, carbon fibers and pyrolysis vapor are fully characterized. Variation of pyrolysis temperature is carried out to obtain carbon fibers with the best possible surface properties. In order to compare the mechanical properties of the recycled carbon fibers with virgin material, composite materials with polyamide are produced and their properties compared.

Carbon Fibers Composites, Mechanical Properties

Schwarz, S. , Höftberger, T. , Burgstaller, C. , Hackl, A. and Schwarzinger, C. (2020) Pyrolytic Recycling of Carbon Fibers from Prepregs and Their Use in Polyamide Composites. Open Journal of Composite Materials, 10, 92-105. doi: 10.4236/ojcm.2020.104007.