Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structure–property relationship of recycled carbon fibres revealed by pyrolysis recycling process

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The structure–property relationship for recycled carbon fibres is investigated by characterisation of the structure changes induced by the pyrolysis recycling process. Two important factors influencing the properties of recycled carbon fibres are identified for various recycling processes: oxidative effect and thermal effect. The oxidative effect results in surface defects, and the surface defects causes a reduction in tensile strength and lateral crystallite size. The thermal effect of the recycling process results in an expansion in the distance between graphite layers and a decrease in surface oxygen concentration, which would lead to a drop in interfacial shear strength with epoxy resins. The tensile strength of recycled carbon fibres has a strong correlation with the intensity ratio of the D and G bands of the Raman spectra (I D/I G). With an increase in I D/I G, the tensile strength of recycled carbon fibre decreases linearly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pickering SJ (2006) Recycling technologies for thermoset composite materials—current status. Compos A 37:1206–1215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jiang G, Wong WH, Pickering SJ, Rudd CD, Walker GS (2005) In: Proceedings of 7th World Congress for Chemical Engineering, Glasgow

  3. Davidson J, Price R (2009) Recycling carbon fibres, EP2152487

  4. Knight CC, Zeng C, Zhang C, Wang B (2011) In: International SAMPE technical conference, Long Beach

  5. Jiang G, Pickering SJ (2009) Characterisation of carbon fibre recycled using supercritical n-propanol. Compos Sci Technol 69:192–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jiang G, Pickering SJ, Wong KH, Rudd CD, Walker GS (2008) Surface characterisation of carbon fibre recycled using high temperature fluidised bed. Appl Surf Sci 254:2588–2593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yip HLH, Pickering SJ, Rudd CD (2002) Characterisation of carbon fibers recycled from scrap composites using fluidised bed process. Plast Rubber Compos 31:278–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Santiago F, Mansour AN, Lee RN (1987) XPS study of sizing removal from carbon fibers. Surf Interface Anal 10:17–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Weng LT, Poleunis C, Bertrand P et al (1995) Sizing removal and functionalization of the carbon fibre surface studied by combined TOF SIMS and XPS. J Adhes Sci Technol 9:859–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Desimoni E, Casella GI, Morone A, Salvi AM (1990) XPS determination of oxygen-containing functional groups on carbon-fibre surfaces and the cleaning of these surfaces. Surf Interface Anal 15:627–634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sherwood PMA (1996) Surface analysis of carbon and carbon fibers for composites. J Electron Spectrosc 81:319–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Viswanathan H, Rooke MA, Sherwood PMA (1997) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of carbon-fibre surfaces. 21. Comparison of carbon fibres electrochemically oxidized in acid using achromatic and monochromatic XPS. Surf Interface Anal 25:409–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Xie Y, Sherwood PMA (1990) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of carbon fibre surfaces. 11. Differences in the surface chemistry and bulk structure of different carbon fibres based on poly(acrylonitrile) and pitch and comparison with various graphite samples. Chem Mater 2:293–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Desaeger M, Reis MJ, Botelho do Rego AM, Lopes da Silva JD, Verpoest I (1996) Surface characterisation of poly(acrylonitrile) based intermediate modulus carbon fibres. J Mater Sci 31:6305–6315. doi:10.1007/BF00354454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Yumitori S (2000) Correlation of C1s chemical state intensities with the O1s intensity in the XPS analysis of anodically oxidized glass-like carbon samples. J Mater Sci 35:139–146. doi:10.1023/A:1004761103919

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Yamaki J, Katayama Y (1975) New methods of determining contact angle between monofilament and liquid. J Appl Polym Sci 19:2897–2909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Dumitrascu N, Borcia C (2006) Determining the contact angle between liquids and cylindrical surfaces. J Colloid Interf Sci 294:418–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. van Oss CJ (1994) Interfacial forces in aqueous media. Marcel Dekker, New York

    Google Scholar 

  19. Cullity BD (1978) Elements of X-ray diffraction. Addison-Wesley, Reading

    Google Scholar 

  20. Yamauchi S, Kurimoto Y (2003) Raman spectroscopic study on pyrolyzed wood and bark of Japanese cedar: temperature dependence of Raman parameters. J Wood Sci 49:235–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Zickler GA, Smarsly B, Gierlinger N, Peterlik H, Paris O (2006) A reconsideration of the relationship between the crystallite size La of carbons determined by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Carbon 44:3239–3246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jiang G, Pickering SJ (2012) Recycled carbon fibres: contact angles and interfacial bonding with thermoset resins. Mater Sci Forum 714:255–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang Y, Viswanathan H, Audi AA, Sherwood PMA (2000) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of carbon fiber surfaces. 22. Comparison between surface treatment of untreated and previously surface-treated fibers. Chem Mater 12:1100–1107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Zielke U, Huttinger KJ, Hoffman WP (1996) Surface-oxidized carbon fibers: I. Surface structure and chemistry. Carbon 34:983–998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Bradley RH, Ling X, Sutherland I (1993) An investigation of carbon fibre surface chemistry and reactivity based on XPS and surface free energy. Carbon 31:1115–1120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Vickers PE, Watts JF, Perruchot C, Chehimi MM (2000) The surface chemistry and acid-base properties of a PAN-based carbon fibre. Carbon 38:675–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Wenzel RT (1936) Resistance of solid surfaces to wetting by water. Ind Eng Chem 28:988–994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wenzel RT (1949) Surface roughness and contact angle. J Phys Colloid Chem 53:1466–1467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Walker PL, McKinstry HA, Wright CC (1953) X-ray diffraction studies of a graphitized carbon: changes in interlayer spacing and binding energy with temperature. Ind Eng Chem 45:1711–1715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang S, Chen Z, Ma W, Ma Q (2006) Influence of heat treatment on physical-chemical properties of PAN-based carbon fiber. Ceram Int 32:291–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Liu X, Yang C, Lu Y (2012) Contrastive study of anodic oxidation on carbon fibers and graphite fibers. Appl Surf Sci 258:4268–4275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Guo Y, Liu J, Liang J (2005) Surface state of carbon fibers modified by electrochemical oxidation. J Mater Sci Technol 21:371–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tuinstra F, Koenig JI (1970) Raman spectra of graphite. J Chem Phys 53:1126–1130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Robertson J (1986) Amorphous carbon. Adv Phys 35:317–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Jawhari T, Roid A, Casado J (1995) Raman spectroscopic characterisation of some commercially available carbon black materials. Carbon 33:1561–1565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Cuesta A, Dhamelincourt P, Laureyns J, Martinez-Alonso A, Tascon JMD (1994) Raman microprobe studies on carbon materials. Carbon 32:1523–1532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Katagiri G, Ishida H, Ishitani A (1988) Raman spectra of graphite edge planes. Carbon 26:565–571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Knight DS, White WB (1989) Characterization of diamond films by Raman spectroscopy. J Mater Res 4:385–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Huang Y, Young RJ (1995) Effect of fibre microstructure upon the modulus of PAN- and pitch-based carbon fibres. Carbon 33:97–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Galiotis C, Batchelder DN (1988) Strain dependences of the first- and second-order Raman spectra of carbon fibres. J Mater Sci Lett 7:545–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Greenaway DL, Harbeke G, Bassani F, Tosatti E (1969) Anisotropy of the optical constants and the band structure of graphite. Phys Rev 178:1340–1349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Sakata H, Dresselhaus G, Dresselhaus MS, Endo M (1988) Effect of uniaxial stress on the Raman spectra of graphite fibers. J Appl Phys 63:2769–2772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Northolt MG, Veldhuizen LH, Jansen H (1991) Tensile deformation of carbon fibres and the relationship with the modulus for shear between the basal planes. Carbon 29:1267–1279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Reynolds WN (1972) Structure and physical properties of carbon fibre. Chem Phys Carbon 7:1–67

    Google Scholar 

  45. Reynolds WN, Moreton R (1980) Some factors affecting the strengths of carbon fibres. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A294:451–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Fitzer E, Geigl K-H, Huttner W, Weiss R (1980) Chemical interactions between the carbon fibre surface and epoxy resins. Carbon 18:389–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Fitzer E, Weiss R (1987) Effect of surface treatment and sizing of C-fibres on the mechanical properties of CFR thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers. Carbon 25:455–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Horie K, Murai H, Mita I (1976) Bonding of epoxy resin to graphite fibres. Fibre Sci Technol 9:253–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by EPSRC through the Nottingham Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (NIMRC). We also acknowledge the supply of recycled carbon fibre by ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd (UK).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Guozhan Jiang

    Present address: School of Biology Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Materials Mechanics and Structures, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Guozhan Jiang & Stephen J. Pickering

Authors
  1. Guozhan Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephen J. Pickering
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guozhan Jiang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiang, G., Pickering, S.J. Structure–property relationship of recycled carbon fibres revealed by pyrolysis recycling process. J Mater Sci 51, 1949–1958 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9502-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9502-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation