Investigations of technical challenges in compounding of recycled carbon fibers

Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) owing to its excellent properties have found its extensive application in various fields ranging from medical to automobile and aerospace industries. This has thereby led to ever-increasing demand of carbon fiber production and as well as resulting in tonnes of carbon fiber wastes in the landfills [5]. Due to the high positive impacts of using carbon fibers, the energy intensive and cost intensive production of virgin fibers and the growing landfills are often overlooked. Hence, the need for recycling and repurposing of carbon fiber wastes have gained the significance at present day. Although various recycling technologies have been developed yet, various challenges are faced with processing of recycled carbon fibers (rCF). Besides, the desired application specific properties are not compromised for high cost and high-energy requirement. Therefore, an overall development of processing rCF is sought from not only a sustainability point but also an economic point [7]. Various efficient recycling technologies are currently operating. The challenges arises in commercializing the recycled fibers after the recycling process. The recycled fibers often require various post-processing of fibers and undergoes fiber degradation. This induces a skeptical mindset for the buyers to introduce the recycled fibers in the material ecosystem. This paper currently discusses the processing challenges of long rCF in a compounding plant. To form a closed loop, the recycled fibers are obtained from the novel thermocatalytic degassing process from the CFRP recycling pioneers in Germany, Global EnerTec AG, Guben. This plant in Guben not only recycles carbon fibers from automotive CFRP wastes but also repurposes the epoxy matrices into secondary energy sources. This paper focuses in investigating the processing of rCF obtained from a 100% recycling technology. The aim is to investigate the possible technical challenges so that the rCF can be repurposed to new product manufacturing. Thereby, addressing the concerns with the development of closed loop circular economy in recycling CFRP wastes.