Observation, experiment and analytical ability, care in experimental conditions and results analysis.
Background :
In former projects dealing with the recycling of carbon epoxies composites, it was shown that, under some conditions, the main mechanical properties of the carbon fibers retrieved after the process are close to those of the virgin ones. Nevertheless, using solvolysis or pyrolysis process, the recovered fibers are fluffier, the apparent density is 4 times less than the original one. This prevents an optimal re-use of the fibers since the fibers are likely to cross over, decreasing the volume fraction of the fibers.
Subject:
Find an efficient method to realign carbon fibers of different lengths.
Work:
After a bibliographical update, including some previous unpublished works done at Icam, a research of new ideas will be done. Among them, some ideas will be chosen for further development. Design and set up of new experiments will be done to find out the more efficient method. The obtained results will be justified using physical models.
Some parameters may be taken into account:
- The processing parameters of the pyrolysis/solvolysis process.
- The usefulness of the re-sizing of the fibers
An economical evaluation of the process might be done, depending on the technical results.
