Energy and environmental assessment and reuse of fluidised bed recycled carbon fibres

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) recycling and the reutilisation of the recovered carbon fibre (rCF) can compensate for the high impacts of virgin carbon fibre (vCF) production. In this paper, we evaluate the energy and environmental impacts of CF recycling by a fluidised bed process and reuse to manufacture a CFRP material. A 'gate-to gate' life cycle model of the CFRP recycling route using papermaking and compression moulding methods is developed based on energy analysis of the fluidised bed recycling process and processing of rCF. Key recycling plant operating parameters, including plant capacity, feed rate, and air in-leakage are investigated. Life cycle impact assessments demonstrate the environmental benefits of recycled CFRP against end of life treatments-landfilling, incineration. The use of rCF to displace vCF based on material indices (equivalent stiffness and equivalent strength) therefore proves to be a competitive alternative for composite manufacture in terms of environmental impact.