Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are an integral part of the combination of lightweight and high-strength, rigid component structures. But what happens with production waste or at the end of its service life?

In waste incineration, the electrically conductive carbon fibers cause overlaps in the E filters; the same applies to co-incineration in cement plants. Carbon fibers also form pulp splinters at temperatures above 800°C, which means that thermal disposal is also a health hazard. The final consequence is the landfill or recycling.

Pyrolysis is currently the only solution that separates carbon fibers from the thermoset matrix. In this process, the resin is almost completely converted into pyrolysis gas and the fiber is released and discharged as solid waste from the reactor.

This material can then be reused as a recycled carbon fiber (r-CF) in thermoplastic composites.