Characterisation of carbon fibres recycled from carbon fibre/epoxy resin composites using supercritical n-propanol

Three different PAN based carbon fibres (Toray T600S, T700S and Tenax STS563 1) were recycled from epoxy resin/carbon fibre composites using supercritical n-propanol. The recycled carbon fibres were characterised using single fibre tensile tests, SEM, XPS and micro-droplet test. The tensile strength and Modulus of the recycled carbon fibre was very similar to the corresponding as-received carbon fibres. However, the surface oxygen concentration decreased significantly, which Caused a reduction of the interfacial shear strength with epoxy resin. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.