Recycling of carbon fiber reinforced plastics using subcritical water

The decomposition of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) was carried out to recover phenolic monomers and carbon fiber (CF) using subcritical water. The total yield of phenolic monomers reached 70.9% at 673K, 20MPa, 45min and 2.5wt% potassium carbonate catalyst. The tensile strength of the recovered CF was about 15% lower than that of a virgin one and it might be acceptable level for industrial use such as filler in polymers. The functional groups on the surface of the recovered CF decreased, comparing with a virgin one. Therefore the oxidation treatment of the recovered CF might be required, when we try to reuse it.