Rapid Preparation of 2D C/C Composite by Moulding Method Based on Recycled Carbon Fiber

Efforts were made on recycling carbon fiber (CF) from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin (CF/EP) composite by pyrolysis and reused to rapid fabricate 2D C/C composite in this work, which provides a new direction for high-value reusing recycled carbon fiber (rCF). The results showed that a small amount of pyrolytic carbon was retained in rCF, but the rCF was not markedly damaged and kept comparable properties to virgin carbon fiber (vCF) after pyrolysis treatment. The rCF was subsequent used to rapid fabricate 2D C/C composite though moulding method. No significant negative effect of pyrolytic carbon on densification of rCF C/C composite was observed and there was no obvious structural defect within the rCF C/C composite. The as-obtained rCF C/C composite has a comparable flexural strength of 90.25 MPa with that of the vCF C/C composite of 95.45 MPa. Both the rCF C/C and vCF C/C composite exhibited a pseudo-ductile fracture behavior after reaching the maximum value of the stress-deflection curves. Surprisingly that the pyrolytic carbon has no fatal effect on the mechanical properties of the prepared rCF C/C composite, which is expected to be used as substitute in certain fields.