Title: High Performance, Low Cost, Discontinuous Fiber Molding Compound Based on Reclaimed Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Prepreg

Authors: Pete George, Benjamin Rutz, Felix Nguyen, and Toshiya Kamae

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/c.19.0851

Abstract: Production scale fiber recovery recycling for carbon fiber thermoset composite waste is becoming operationalized to support the growing volumes of material being processed in support of aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors. While providing a value added alternative to landfilling and waste to energy, these fiber recovery and subsequent processing operations fundamentally down cycle to a lower fiber volume discontinuous disorganized filament material with subsequent product life cycle recovery processes compounding the down cycle. Prior to fiber recovery cycles many uncured prepreg forms can be processed for higher value use as short fiber molding compounds without resin removal. This paper outlines a process and shares processing and mechanical performance results for a bulk molding compound based on uncured carbon fiber prepreg manufactured as a dry flake form material which is demonstrated to be compatible with existing compression molding processes.

The conversion process directly recycles continuous unidirectional prepreg edge trim and remnant materials into a useable compound preserving fiber volume, resin performance and tow level filament organization. Data will be shared for compound flow and mechanical performance of compounds manufactured from feed stocks with a range of room temperature aging supporting the argument that frozen storage is not required during collection and transportation of feedstock or for subsequent compounds.

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Conference: CAMX 2019

Publication Date: 2019/09/23

SKU: TP19-0851

Pages: 13

Price: $26.00