Circulating flow reactor for recycling of carbon fiber from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite

For the purpose of development of a chemical recycling process for carbon fiber from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite, a new chemical recycling system using nitric acid aqueous solution has been proposed. The recycling system is composed of hexahedral circulating flow reactor made of quartz, Teflon supporter, acid resistance pump and auxiliaries. Epoxy matrix in the composite was effectively decomposed by nitric acid aqueous solution in the circulating flow reactor and carbon fiber could be recycled without any tangle or disturbance. Optimum conditions for the recycling process have been experimentally established. Tensile strength loss of recycled carbon fiber and composition of liquid phase decomposition products were analyzed.