1,721,322 research outputs found
Development and application of a quality control and property assurance methodology for reclaimed carbon fibers based on the HiPerDiF (High Performance Discontinuous Fibre) method and interlaminated hybrid specimens
No full textTo promote the usage of recycled composite material, it is of paramount importance to develop quality control and property assurance methodologies compatible with the format of reclaimed fibers. In this paper, the concept of using interlaminated hybrid specimens, whose tensile response has been tailored with the aid of the Damage mode maps, is exploited to unambiguously identify the reclaimed fibers failure strain. The interlaminated hybrid specimens are manufacturing by sandwiching a layer of aligned discontinuous reclaimed carbon fibers produced with the HiPerDiF (High Performance Discontinuous Fibre) method between continuous glass fibers. The reliability of the obtained results is compared with results obtained with single fiber tensile tests. The developed methodology is then applied to the investigation of the strength retention of carbon fibers reclaimed through a solvolysis process and to the effects of the fiber length on the HiPerDiF alignment process
REPAIR PERFORMANCE OF DISCONTINUOUS FLAX FIBRE REINFORCED VITRIMERS
No full textThis study examines the utilization of vitrimers in flax fibre reinforced composites, highlighting their potential as sustainable solutions. Vitrimers, possessing characteristics of both thermosets and thermoplastics, offer self-healing and recycling capabilities. By incorporating vitrimers into the composites industry, the principles of a circular economy can be realized. A commercial vitrimer resin, Vitrimax T100TM, was reinforced with aligned short flax fibre preforms produced by the HiPerDiF method. The mechanical recovery performance of aligned short flax fibre reinforced vitrimers through two repair strategies, end-to-end and single patch methods, was investigated. The results demonstrate the feasibility of reusing, repairing, and recycling these materials, presenting a significant step towards achieving sustainability and circularity in fibre reinforced composite applications
INTERFACIAL SHEAR STRENGTH OF FLAX FIBRE WITH SUSTAINABLE MATRICES
No full textIn this study, the interfacial properties of a sustainable natural fibre, based on flax, with three potentially sustainable advanced matrices are examined. These commercial advanced matrices are (i) a vitrimer that combines the beneficial properties of both thermosets and thermoplastics, (ii) an entirely bio-based thermoset, and (iii) an advanced thermoplastic resin, are investigated for sustainable high-performance fibre reinforced polymer composites. Each of the selected matrices offers either recyclability, repairability, reusability, or the use of renewable sources and a reduction in the emissions of volatile organic compounds. Microbond tests are used to evaluate the interface performance of flax fibres coupled with each of the three matrices: interfacial shear strength and critical fibre length are reported. In conclusion, it is found that the vitrimer and the bio-based thermoset matrices have better adhesion with flax fibre compared to a traditional epoxy matrix, and the advanced thermoplastic resin shows the poorest adhesion with flax fibre
FROM SAIL TO STRUCTURE END-OF-LIFE SAILS AS A FEEDSTOCK FOR CIRCULAR MANUFACTURING
No full textThe yachting industry currently does not have a waste-management plan for end-of-life (EOL) sailcloth. The most advanced sails produced by the world's largest sailmaker, North Sails, are flexible carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, and the aim of this project is to reclaim the highest-value components from North Sails' “3Di” range of sails, i.e. the carbon fibres, via two gasification-type processes. One process was conducted in a controlled air atmosphere (carried out by ELG Carbon Fibre (prior to 2022)), and the other in a controlled superheated steam (SHS) atmosphere, while undergoing pressure-swing cycles (carried out by Longworth). The successfully reclaimed carbon fibres were subsequently remanufactured into aligned discontinuous fibre reinforced composites (ADFRCs), using the High-Performance Discontinuous Fibre (HiPerDiF) manufacturing technology, invented at the University of Bristol, to lay out a possible waste-management route for EOL 3Di sails
Circular manufacturing with the HiPerDiF technology using reclaimed carbon fibres from end-of-life sails
No full text- …
