Efficient and comprehensive recycling of fiber-reinforced thermosets is particularly challenging, since the irreversible degradation of the matrix component is necessary in order to separate the fiber component in high purity. In this work, a new approach to fully recyclable thermoset composites is presented, based on the thermal reversibility of an epoxy-based polymer network, crosslinked through Diels-Alder (DA) chemistry. Carbon fiber composites, fabricated by compression molding, were efficiently recycled through a simple solvolysis procedure in common solvents, under mild conditions, with no catalysts. Specifically, the purity of reclaimed fibers, assessed by thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, was very high (> 95%) and allowed successful reprocessing into second generation composites. Moreover, the dissolved matrix residues were directly employed to prepare smart, thermally healable coatings. Overall, DA chemistry has been shown to provide a convenient strategy towards circular economy of thermoset composites.
Simultaneous recovery of matrix and fiber in carbon reinforced composites through a diels-alder solvolysis process
Griffini G.;Turri S.
2019-01-01
Abstract
Efficient and comprehensive recycling of fiber-reinforced thermosets is particularly challenging, since the irreversible degradation of the matrix component is necessary in order to separate the fiber component in high purity. In this work, a new approach to fully recyclable thermoset composites is presented, based on the thermal reversibility of an epoxy-based polymer network, crosslinked through Diels-Alder (DA) chemistry. Carbon fiber composites, fabricated by compression molding, were efficiently recycled through a simple solvolysis procedure in common solvents, under mild conditions, with no catalysts. Specifically, the purity of reclaimed fibers, assessed by thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, was very high (> 95%) and allowed successful reprocessing into second generation composites. Moreover, the dissolved matrix residues were directly employed to prepare smart, thermally healable coatings. Overall, DA chemistry has been shown to provide a convenient strategy towards circular economy of thermoset composites.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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Fortunato et al_Polymers 11 (2019) 1007.pdf
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