Composites from carbon fiber and thermoplastic matrix waste: influence of fiber discontinuity and matrix type on mechanical properties

Abstract

The industries sector of renewable energy, automobile, and Aerospace have been investigating new materials with specific properties such as mechanical, in order to increase their efficiency. Laminate composites have attended these current demands by providing structures with low specific mass and high modulus when compared with isotropic materials. However, in the manufacturing process and the end-of-life cycle generate waste materials in which an inappropriate discard may become an environmental problem. In order to reduce such impact, both economical and environmental, the solution is reintroducing the waste material in new applications. This research encompasses the reutilization the waste material, such as carbon fiber and thermoplastic scraps, to produce new composites. It will evaluate the influence of the carbon fiber fabric size on the four-point-bending test by using two types of the thermoplastic matrix: polyethylene terephthalate ester (PET) and Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). In order to evaluate, three types of laminate configuration will be tested, and mechanical properties will be compared to continuous laminate composites. The laminates will be manufactured via the thermoforming process acquired by the financial support of FAPESP number 2017/16160-8. The four-point-bend test will be monitored by video to investigate the failure process which may guide to future improvements in the lay up architecture. The results will provide new perspectives to employ scraped material in long term life products. (AU)