Hello
Salvatore Lazzara
Ph.D. Student in Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna
About Me
My research activity focuses on the development and optimization of strategies for the recovery and recycling of end-of-life Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites (CFRCs) from aerospace industry. CFRCs are widely used in applications requiring high mechanical performance due to their lightweight nature and outstanding mechanical properties. However, the massive increase in their production and application presents significant disposal challenges, both at the end of their life cycle and regarding manufacturing scraps and offcuts. Since the production of virgin carbon fibers requires a high energy demand, this research aims at the valorization of fibrous components and its reuse in technologies & equipment compliant with space applications
In this context the pyro-gasification process results very promising for the recovery of Carbon Fibers (rCFs) of good quality. The process involves a double thermochemical treatment:
· Pyrolysis: The composite scraps are treated in an inert nitrogen atmosphere to thermally degrade the polymer matrix.
· Gasification: The pyrolytic char formed during the first step is decomposed into CO₂ using an oxidizing environment, completely removing the matrix to yield clean rCFs.
After an in-depth preliminary characterization of the available feeding materials, many pyro-gasification process tests on a lab scale reactor system were carried out with the aim to determine the optimal degradation temperatures and residence times necessary to preserve the intrinsic properties of the fibers.
The fibers quality was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to verify the absence of surface char, evaluate any potential degradation, and measure their diameters in comparison to virgin fibers. Furthermore, atomic mapping via Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) was employed to determine the oxygen and carbon distribution on the fiber surfaces, confirming the complete degradation of the residual polymer matrix. Currently, the mechanical performances of the rCFs are under evaluation through single-fiber tensile tests to ensure that the process achieves mechanical characteristics comparable to those of virgin carbon fibers.
Future research efforts will focus on scaling up the pyro-gasification process to a pilot plant. The goal is to validate the methodology on a larger scale while ensuring that the recovered carbon fibers maintain the same high-quality structural and mechanical properties achieved during laboratory testing.
In this context the pyro-gasification process results very promising for the recovery of Carbon Fibers (rCFs) of good quality. The process involves a double thermochemical treatment:
· Pyrolysis: The composite scraps are treated in an inert nitrogen atmosphere to thermally degrade the polymer matrix.
· Gasification: The pyrolytic char formed during the first step is decomposed into CO₂ using an oxidizing environment, completely removing the matrix to yield clean rCFs.
After an in-depth preliminary characterization of the available feeding materials, many pyro-gasification process tests on a lab scale reactor system were carried out with the aim to determine the optimal degradation temperatures and residence times necessary to preserve the intrinsic properties of the fibers.
The fibers quality was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to verify the absence of surface char, evaluate any potential degradation, and measure their diameters in comparison to virgin fibers. Furthermore, atomic mapping via Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) was employed to determine the oxygen and carbon distribution on the fiber surfaces, confirming the complete degradation of the residual polymer matrix. Currently, the mechanical performances of the rCFs are under evaluation through single-fiber tensile tests to ensure that the process achieves mechanical characteristics comparable to those of virgin carbon fibers.
Future research efforts will focus on scaling up the pyro-gasification process to a pilot plant. The goal is to validate the methodology on a larger scale while ensuring that the recovered carbon fibers maintain the same high-quality structural and mechanical properties achieved during laboratory testing.