LONG FIBER THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES FROM RECYCLED CARBON FIBER

摘要

We are demonstrating that recycled carbon fiber (RCF) can be a viable raw material for makingrnlong fiber thermoplastic (LFT) compounds using two thermoplastic polymers: PA-66 and PPS.rnThe RCF fibers are drawn from a variety of sources including dry fiber edge trimmings,rnthermoset prepreg scrap, and end-of-life epoxy-matrix parts. The recycled fibers compoundedrnand molded well in all the resin compositions - whether AS4 or IM7 in as-received, pyrolyzed, orrnregrind conditions. The mechanical properties achieved with recycled fibers were similar tornthose achieved with commercial LFT material. We also made parts from scrap PPS-CF prepregrnthat was ground and blended with additional PPS. The results for these samples were among thernbest results we achieved. We have shown that LFT made from recycled carbon fiber can providerncarbon fiber composite molders and users with a high-value-added alternative to landfilling theirrnin-process and end-of-life scrap.