Fiber and monomer recovery from an amine-cured epoxy composite using molten NaOH–KOH
Youngdon Lim, Zehan Yu, Valeriy Cherepakhin, Travis J. Williams, Steven Nutt
Abstract
We report a rapid route to reclaim carbon fiber (CF) fabric and monomeric chemicals from amine-epoxy CF-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. We use a reaction that occurs in molten NaOH-KOH eutectic to selectively cleave aryl ether and amine linkages, which involves two temperature-dependant mechanisms. Bisphenol-A is isolated in up to quantitative yields, and recovered CF fabric is remanufactured into 2nd-generation CFRPs.
Topics & Concepts
Composite numberMonomerEpoxyFiberAmine gas treatingMaterials scienceChemical engineeringPolymer chemistryComposite materialChemistryOrganic chemistryPolymerEngineeringFiber-reinforced polymer compositesRecycling and Waste Management TechniquesEpoxy Resin Curing Processes