Carbon fibre reinforced composite waste: An environmental assessment of recycling, energy recovery and landfilling

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Vol. 49; pp. 89 - 99
• Main Authors: Witik, Robert A., Teuscher, Remy, Michaud, Véronique, Ludwig, Christian, Månson, Jan-Anders E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Carbon fibre; A. Polymer–matrix composite; Applied sciences; carbon fibers; E. Recycling; ecosystem services; energy recovery; environmental assessment; Exact sciences and technology; Life cycle assessment; materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; pyrolysis; recycling; Technology of polymers; Waste treatment; wastes; Life cycle assessment; E. Recycling; A. Polymer–matrix composite; A. Carbon fibre; Pyrolysis; A. Polymer-matrix composite; State of the art; Short fiber; Life cycle (environment); Energy recovery; Mineral fiber; Composite material; Sanitary landfill; Incineration; E. Recycling Life cycle assessment; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Recycled material; Recycling; Plastic waste; Thermal degradation
• ISSN: 1359-835X; 1878-5840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2013.02.009

The environmental benefits of recycling are assessed against other end-of-life (EOL) treatments for Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) waste. Recycling via pyrolysis, incineration with energy recovery, and disposal via landfilling are compared. To account for physical changes to materials from use and recycling, equivalence between recycled and virgin materials is calculated based on the ability to produce a short fibre composite beam of equivalent stiffness. Secondary effects of using Recycled Carbon Fibre (RCF) in a hypothetical automotive application are also analysed. Results underline the ecological constraints towards recycling CFRPs and demonstrate that benefits from recycling are strongly linked to the impacts of the selected recovery process, the materials replaced by RCF in a secondary application, and also to the type of secondary application in which they are used.