Abstract
There are forecasts for the exponential increase in the generation of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite wastes containing valuable carbon and glass fibres. The recent adoption of these composites in wind turbines and aeroplanes has increased the amount of end-of-life waste from these applications. By adequately closing the life cycle loop, these enormous volumes of waste can partly satisfy the global demand for their virgin counterparts. Therefore, there is a need to properly dispose these composite wastes, with material recovery being the final target, thanks to the strict EU regulations for promoting recycling and reusing as the highest priorities in waste disposal options. In addition, the hefty taxation has almost brought about an end to landfills. These government regulations towards properly recycling these composite wastes have changed the industries’ attitudes toward sustainable disposal approaches, and life cycle assessment (LCA) plays a vital role in this transition phase. This LCA study uses climate change results and fossil fuel consumptions to study the environmental impacts of a thermal recycling route to recycle and remanufacture CFRP and GFRP wastes into recycled rCFRP and rGFRP composites. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis was performed comparing with the traditional waste management options such as landfill, incineration with energy recovery and feedstock for cement kiln. Overall, the LCA results were favourable for CFRP wastes to be recycled using the thermal recycling route with lower environmental impacts. However, this contradicts GFRP wastes in which using them as feedstock in cement kiln production displayed more reduced environmental impacts than those thermally recycled to substitute virgin composite production.
Highlights
This study primarily aims to perform an life cycle assessment (LCA) assessment on a recycling route that thermally recycles the carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) wastes and remanufactures the recycled fibres into recycled (r) CFRP and rGFRP composites employing a fresh epoxy resin system using a compression moulding process
This study analysed various waste disposal methods for CFRP and GFRP wastes using the LCA methodology, especially, focusing on a thermal recycling route developed from the previous study [24] to recycle and remanufacture CFRP and GFRP wastes into rCFRP
When rCFRP replaces vCFRP with a ratio of 1:1, i.e., 100% of recycled composites to virgin composites, the combined Global Warming Potential (GWP) emissions will be −11.43 kg CO2 -eq taking into account the high mechanical properties (>90%) of rCFRP reported in various studies [1,40,41] and lower emissions (3.06 kg CO2 -eq) from recycling the pricy CFs
Summary
Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP). Composites have been used in high-performance and lightweight applications such as renewable energy, automobiles, construction, aeronautics, aerospace, sports, and defence. In 2020, the global composite market size reached USD 95.89 billion. The majority of the shares were contributed by CFRP and GFRP composites in lightweight applications [2]. Two applications, namely wind turbines (WTs) and aeroplanes, are notable for using CFRP and GFRP composites in higher volumes. Based on the 2021 report by the global wind energy council (GWEC) [3], it is necessary to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 in order to avoid climate change, and wind energy plays a significant role. Despite the impressive targets in the year 2020, the report suggests three times more WT installation requirements in the following years to reach such global targets
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