Abstract
The effects of a closed-loop recycling methodology are evaluated for degradation using a discontinuous carbon fibre polyamide 6 (CFPA6) composite material. The process comprises two fundamental steps: reclamation and remanufacture. The material properties are analysed over two recycling loops, and CFPA6 specimens show a total decrease of 39.7% (±3.5) in tensile stiffness and 40.4% (±6.1) in tensile strength. The results of polymer characterisation and fibre analysis suggested that the stiffness reduction was likely due to fibre misalignments primarily caused by fibre agglomerations, as a result of incomplete fibre separation, and by fibre breakages from high compaction pressures. The ultimate tensile strain was statistically invariable as a function of recycling loop which indicated minimal variation in polymer structure as a function of recycling loop. To the authors’ best knowledge, the mechanical performance of the virgin CFPA6 is the highest observed for any aligned discontinuous carbon fibre thermoplastic composites in the literature. This is also true for recycled specimens, which are the highest observed for any recycled thermoplastic composite, and, for any recycled discontinuous carbon fibre composite with either thermosetting or thermoplastic matrices.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.