Carbon fiber extraction from waste CFRP by microwave irradiation

The present paper proposes an effective method to extract carbon fibers from waste CFRPs with low energy consumption and low processing time. Carbon fibers were extracted from waste CFRPs by irradiating microwaves under different atmospheres. The effect of the atmosphere and field intensity of irradiated microwaves on the efficiency of extraction of carbon fibers was investigated. The mechanism of extraction through microwave irradiation was also studied. Finally, the tensile strength of extracted carbon fibers was investigated and compared with that of carbon fibers extracted using conventional methods. Test results showed that the carbon-fiber extraction through microwave irradiation can be considered to occur in three stages. First, the carbon fibers in CFRP were heated through the antenna effect by microwave irradiation. Then, the gasification of resin was promoted by the heated carbon fibers. Finally, the gasified resin was decomposed by spark glow plasma between carbon fibers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.