Characterization of recycled carbon fibers reinforcing thermoplastic polymers

Abstract

In recent years, the metallic materials used in the automotive sector have been replaced by plastic materials. Also associated with this, the recycling or reuse of plastics parts is increasingly important. This work appears framed within a project that intends to substitute thermosetting materials for thermoplastics materials, that will be apply in the automotive sector. So, this article compares two thermoplastics materials reinforced by recycled carbon fibers. In the first case, the used materials were layers of recycled carbon fiber prepreg with polypropylene (PP) and in the second case it were used layers of recycling carbon fiber and layers of PP nonwovens. Both materials were processed by compression moulding process, at the same temperature. After processing, the composite materials obtained were evaluated mechanically, physically and thermally. A flammability test was also carried out to verify if it could be used in the automotive sector. After the characterization tests, as a conclusion, the material that offers the better properties is the recycled carbon fiber prepreg with polypropylene, with both materials fulfilling the requirements of the flammability standard.