Near Zero-Waste Manufacturing of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

Philip R. Barnett, Nadim S. Hmeidat, Dayakar Penumadu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Organosheet composite scrap made from polyphenylene sulfide reinforced with long recycled carbon fibers was reprocessed to produce compression molding compounds. No additional polymer was added to the process, making this a demonstration of closed-loop recyclability in composites manufacturing. The recyclate, produced by hammer-milling organosheet trimmings, was sieved and the resulting particulate geometry was measured to predict the fiber length in the molded composites. Tensile testing of the composites revealed that high stiffness parts (tensile modulus greater than 13 GPa) can be achieved using particulate molding compounds, but that tensile strength was significantly degraded. Still, the isotropic molded composites exhibited a greater than 18.8% increase in tensile strength over the neat polymer. Evaluation of the composite microstructure via optical microscopy revealed that fiber packing played a significant role in the tensile strength of the particulate composites, indicating that microstructural heterogeneity should be avoided to maximize the properties of composites made of recycled organosheet waste.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the American Society for Composites - 37th Technical Conference, ASC 2022
EditorsOlesya Zhupanska, Erdogan Madenci
PublisherDEStech Publications Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781605956909
StatePublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes
Event37th Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites, ASC 2022 - Tucson, United States
Duration: Sep 19 2022Sep 21 2022

Publication series

NameProceedings of the American Society for Composites - 37th Technical Conference, ASC 2022

Conference

Conference37th Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites, ASC 2022
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTucson
Period09/19/2209/21/22

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