Investigation of the flexural and impact strength of recycled carbon fiber (RCF) i polyester composite

Abstract

Carbon fiber is a synthetic fiber with high tensile strength and low density compared to other fibers. The use of carbon fiber as reinforcement for thermoset composites is augmented every year. It has an impact on growing the amount of carbon fiber reinforced composite waste. So that, the recycling of carbon fiber from composite waste is needed. In this study, carbon fiber recycling was carried out by a solvolysis process in a PEG solution and NaOH catalyst. The result was added to polyester resin with variations in the fiber volume fraction of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 to form a composite. The results showed that the maximum bending strength of 220.62 MPa and impact strength of 109.54 kJ/m2 was obtained in composites reinforced with 40% recycled carbon fiber (RCF). It was due to the enhancement of the number of fibers capable of supporting the load when the fiber volume fraction increased.