Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) with high T g (>200 °C) are indispensable for aerospace industry where high service temperature is required. Chemical recycling of the matrix polymers for these CFRP composites is more difficult than that of their low T g analogues. In this work, an efficient approach for mild chemical recycling of CFRP with a T g of ?210 °C was developed using a ZnCl2/ethanol catalyst system. The high efficiency of ZnCl2/ethanol was attributed to the strong coordination effect of ZnCl2 with the C-N bonds and the strong swelling ability of ethanol, which worked together to break down the chemical bonds of the cross-linked polymer. Also, mild degradation temperature (<200 °C) imparted little damage to the recovered fibers. The decomposed matrix polymer (DMP) was in the oligomer form and contained multifunctional reactive groups. When DMP was used as a reactive ingredient and added up to 15 wt% to the preparation of new epoxy materials, the resulting cross-linked polymers could still retain the high strength and modulus compared to the neat polymer without addition of DMP.

» Author: Tuan Liu, Meng Zhang, Xiaolong Guo, Chengyun Liu, Tian Liu, Junna Xin, Jinwen Zhang

» Reference: Polymer Degradation and Stability

» More Information

« Go to Technological Watch