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Still today, concerns regarding delamination limit the widespread use of high-performance composite laminates, such as carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), to replace metals. Nanofibrous mat interleaving is a well-established approach to reduce delamination. However, nanomodifications may strongly affect other laminate thermomechanical properties, especially if achieved by integrating soft materials. Here, this limitation is entirely avoided by using rubbery nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/Nomex mixed nanofibers: neither laminate stiffness nor glass-transition temperature (Tg) lowering occurs upon CFRP nanomodification. Stable noncrosslinked nanofibers with up to 60% wt of NBR were produced via single-needle electrospinning, which were then morphologically, thermally, spectroscopically, and mechanically characterized. NBR and Nomex disposition in the nanofiber was investigated via selective removal of the sole rubber fraction, revealing the formation of particular self-assembled structures resembling quasi-core–shell nanofibers or fibril-like hierarchical structures, depending on the applied electrospinning conditions (1.10 and 0.20 mL/h, respectively). Mode I and Mode II loading tests show a significant improvement of the interlaminar fracture toughness of rubbery nanofiber-modified CFRPs, especially GI(up to +180%), while GIIenhancement is less pronounced but still significant (+40% in the best case). The two nanofibrous morphologies (quasi-core–shell and fibril-like ones) improve the delamination resistance differently, also suggesting that the way the rubber is located in the nanofibers plays a role in the toughening action. The quasi-core–shell nanofiber morphology provides the best reinforcing action, besides the highest productivity. By contrast, pure Nomex nanofibers dramatically worsen the interlaminar fracture toughness (up to −70% in GI), acting as a release film. The achieved delamination resistance improvements, combined with the retention of both the original laminate stiffness and Tg, pave the way to the extensive and reliable application of NBR/Nomex rubbery nanofibrous mats in composite laminates.

This work is focused on the mechanical characterization and fracture surfaces analysis of thermosetting polymers reinforced with short, randomly oriented, recycled carbon fibres (rCFs). This work aims at evaluating fibre/matrix adhesion between recycled CFs - reclaimed via pyrolysis followed by controlled oxidation of the pyrolytic char - and different polymer matrices, namely epoxy and vinyl ester resins. The latter is the main focus in this work, being amongst the most widely used thermosetting resins in SMC processes, which are the typical target for short rCFs. The evaluation of the properties of this new recycled carbon fibre reinforced polymer (rCFRP) has been via thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, stress/strain tests in tensile mode, and a subsequent analysis of the fracture surfaces by means of images analysis obtained by macrophotography, Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The comparison amongst the results allowed to evaluate the influence of the polymer nature and of the adhesion quality between fibres and polymeric matrix, mainly on the mechanical properties of the rCFRPs.

In this research, we propose an advanced system for the cleaning of wax-based coatings applied on indoor bronzes. To this aim we developed a new kind of eco-friendly gel based on PHB (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate) used as thickening agent, biodiesel (BD) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). BD is a mixture of methyl esters obtained from palm oil, which acts as cleaning agent while DMC was added as additional solvent to partially solubilize PHB and forming a gelly phase. For the first time a PHB-based gel obtained by mixing two solvents with different proprieties was proposed, expanding the range of possible formulations, that can be used according to the specific restoration purpose. After the preliminary characterization of chemical and physical properties of the gel, an ad hoc analytical protocol was implemented to evaluate both the cleaning efficiency and the release of residues on the treated surfaces. Standard samples were prepared following ancient recipes and submitted to spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis before and after the cleaning procedures. Finally, the performances of PHB-DMC/BD gel were assessed on a real case of study presenting a wax-based coating: the Pulpito della passione attributed to Donatello and dated back to 1460. In situ analysis demonstrated the high cleaning efficiency of the proposed systems also for the removal of aged coatings.

The optical and transport properties of biological and artificial multichromophoric functional materials are strongly affected by the disorder and electron–vibration couplings. The conformational disorder in multichromophores becomes critical especially in the control of coherent dynamics. Indeed, microscopic details of the dephasing processes promoted by the disorder are not yet fully clarified. Here we applied 2D electronic spectroscopy to study the dynamics of vibrational coherences in porphyrin-functionalized polymer samples characterized by different conformational disorder. Distinct coherent dephasing behaviors have been found for low-frequency vibrational modes in the studied samples. The experimental results have been interpreted on the basis of molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical calculations, which allowed correlation of the trend in the dephasing times with different conformational distributions in the two polymers.

Interaction between poly (m-phenylene isophtalamide) (PMIA) electrospun nanofibers and commercial epoxy resin precursor during the cross-linking process was investigated, in order to use such polyaramidic nanofibers for composite materials reinforcement. Hence nanofibrous PMIA mats were produced via electrospinning technique to be used for the functional modification of the epoxy matrix composite properties. When adding such fibers to an epoxy resin precursor, it was observed a strong influence on the kinetics of its curing process. The final results, however, demonstrates that boosting the reaction condition (raising the temperature and the reaction time) the curing is pushed to completion, indicating that the cross-linking process of the resin is just delayed and not completely hampered. It will be therefore necessary to rethink the composite cure cycle when PMIA nanofibers are added to the composite material, in order to attain significant improvement of the final composite performance.

Responsive polymer materials can change their properties when subjected to external stimuli. In this work, thin films of thermotropic poly(metha)acrylate/azobenzene polymers are explored as active layer in light-programmable, electrically readable memories. The memory effect is based on the reversible modifications of the film morphology induced by the photoisomerization of azobenzene mesogenic groups. When the film is in the liquid crystalline phase, the trans→ cisisomerization induces a major surface reorganization on the mesoscopic scale that is characterized by a reduction in the effective thickness of the film. The film conductivity is measured in vertical two-terminal devices in which the polymer is sandwiched between a Au contact and a liquid compliant E-GaIn drop. We demonstrate that the trans→ cisisomerization is accompanied by a reversible 100-fold change in the film conductance. In this way, the device can be set in a high- or low-resistance state by light irradiation at different wavelengths. This result paves the way toward the potential use of poly(metha)acrylate/azobenzene polymer films as active layer for optical input/electrical output memory elements.

PS‐b‐PMA block copolymers carrying terminal anionic groups have been studied. Their synthesis is achieved by mean of 3‐(benzylsulfanyl thiocarbonylsulfanyl) propionic acid and 3‐(1‐phenylethylsulfanyl thiocarbonylsulfanyl) propanesulfonic acid sodium salt as RAFT agents. These block copolymers, when dispersed in methanol, display a pseudo‐amphiphilic behaviour and provide micelles that can be suspended in water by osmosis. During the self‐assembling process, the anionic terminations lead to the formation of nanosized monodispersed particles and confer stability to the micelles in aqueous media. The core of the micelles is loaded with Nile Red to achieve the intracellular delivery of a lipophilic substance; this has been demonstrated by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. The particles, when loaded with Doxorubicin, are able to overcome the intrinsic resistance of LoVo‐MDR cancer cells. A further stabilization is given to the micelles by covalent shell crosslinking provided by triethylene glycol diacrylate. The increased intracellular stability of the crosslinked micelles makes them stain, when loaded with Nile Red, the aqueous cytosol instead of the lipophilic cellular compartments. The unimers constituting the micelles have been covalently labelled with fluorescein to follow their fate once incorporated into the cells.

The RAFT polymerization of styrene in the presence of benzyl aryl trithiocarbonate RAFT agents Z′SCSSR has been studied. The values of the apparent transfer constants $\left( {C_{{\rm tr}}^{{\rm app}} } \right)$of the benzyl aryl trithiocarbonates 0.029 M in bulk styrene polymerization at 110 °C fall within the range 10–25 depending on substituents on the aryl ring Z′ and are higher than that of benzyl dodecyl trithiocarbonate 1for which $C_{{\rm tr}}^{{\rm app}}$was determined to be 9.4. There is a trend for higher transfer constant, lower dispersity product and better control over polymerization with more electronwithdrawing substituents with the most active in the series studied being the 3,5bistrifluoromethylphenyl derivative.

New chiral azoaromatic dendrimeric systems have been synthesized starting from 1,3,5‐benzenetricarbonyl trichloride as the core molecule. The simultaneous presence of the (S)‐3‐hydroxy pyrrolidinyl ring as the optically active moiety and the azobenzene donor‐acceptor conjugated system as the photochromic group with permanent dipole moment, makes these systems potentially interesting as materials for advanced applications in nanotechnologies. All the compounds obtained have been characterized with particular attention to the effects induced by changing the electron‐withdrawing group in the chromophoric moiety and to their optical activity. A strong nonlinear enhancement of chiroptical properties related to the number of chiral units linked to the symmetrical core is observed in these derivatives, which indicates the presence of conformationally chiral substructures. Chirality, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The synthesis of a novel optically active methacrylic monomer containing in the side chain the S3hydroxyNphenyl pyrrolidine ring linked to a 4cyanophenylazocarbazole moiety SMCAPPC and of the analogous achiral monomer MCAPEC is described. Both the monomers have been radically polymerized to produce the corresponding homopolymers as well as the copolymer at 50 molar composition. The photoinduction of birefringence has been assessed on thin films of the polymeric materials in order to evaluate their behavior as materials for optical data storage. Surface relief gratings SRG can also be inscribed over the material. The results are interpreted in terms of different cooperative performance and conformational stiffness of the chromophoric counits in the polymeric derivatives.

The synthesis of chiral liquid‐crystalline polymers of well‐controlled structure (linear and three‐armed star‐shaped) with distinct average chain lengths and low polydispersity was achieved by atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) of a new optically active monomer (S)‐4‐[6‐(2‐methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy)hexyloxy)]‐4′‐ethoxyazobenzene [(S)‐ML6A], containing the L‐lactic residue of one absolute configuration in the side‐chain. All the obtained polymeric samples, characterised by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and polarised optical microscopy (POM), exhibit a smectic A1/2(fully interdigitated) liquid‐crystalline phase and high cleaning points, with transition temperatures dependent on the average polymerisation degree and the macromolecular structure. The chirality originated at the molecular level by the asymmetric functionality of the L‐lactic acid residue provides the polymers, in the smectic phase, of highly homogeneous conformations with a prevailing chirality related to the presence of H‐aggregates having conformational dissymmetry of one prevailing screw‐sense. By irradiating with circularly polarised light (CPL), it is possible to photomodulate the chiroptical properties of these intrinsically chiral polymeric thin films. Upon irradiation with left‐handed CPL (l‐CPL), the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the films show enhancement of ellipticity and a net inversion of sign. The effect is reversible and the mirror image of the CD spectrum can be restored by pumping with right‐handed CPL radiation (r‐CPL). The results show the ability of l‐CPL to invert the supramolecular chirality of the materials and demonstrate the essential role of azoaromatic aggregates.

A novel opticallyactive polymeric methacrylate, bearing the S3hydroxy pyrrolidinyl group linked through the nitrogen atom to an azopyridine chromophore, was synthesized and investigated in combination with a polymeric methacrylate incorporating the photoisomerizable spiropyran chromophore in the sidechain. In the presence of acid, this system can be operated in solution to modulate the protonation of the azopyridine moieties by photoisomerizing the spiropyran component. In addition to UVvis spectroscopy, the proton transfer process occurring between the macromolecular components can be also followed by CD spectroscopy, thus behaving as a chiroptical switch.

Two novel optically active polymethacrylates bearing in the side chain a cyclic chiral group of one prevailing absolute configuration linked to the carbazole chromophore, deriving from the related monomers S-−3methacryloyloxyN39ethylcarbazolylpyrrolidine S−MECP and S2methacryloyloxyN39ethylcarbazolylsuccinimide SMECSI, have been prepared and characterized with the aim to obtain materials suitable to photoconductive applications. PolyS−MECP and polySMECSI exhibit remarkable thermal stability, with glass transition temperature around 200 °C and decomposition temperatures in the range 330–350 °C. Spectroscopic, thermal and chiroptical characterizations indicate the occurrence of dipolar interactions among the side chain moieties and the presence of chiral conformation at least for chain segments of the macromolecules. The photoconductive properties are discussed in terms of extent of conjugation in the side chain based on the electronacceptor or electrondonator properties of the optically active ring linked to the carbazole group.

The photochromic and photoresponsive properties of a series of optically active azoaromatic polymers, containing in the side chain the rigid (S)- and/or (R)‐hydroxysuccinimide residue, have been investigated in solution and in the solid state as thin films by observing the trans‐cis photoisomerisation of the azobenzene chromophore, and the results are compared to the corresponding monomeric (S) and (R) model compounds. The presence of exciton splitting due to dipole‐dipole interactions between the trans‐azoaromatic rings in the CD spectra confirms the intrinsic chirality of the macromolecules. Thin films of the polymers display the same chiroptical properties as the solution, thus suggesting that the macromolecules maintain chiral conformations also in the solid amorphous state.

The synthesis of two novel series of optically active methacrylic copolymers that contain a side-chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic bisazoaromatic chromophore has been carried out by radical copolymerization of the monomer (S)‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐1‐[4′‐phenylazo‐(4‐azobenzene)]pyrrolidine with highly sterically hindered monomers such as tert‐butyl methacrylate or triphenylmethyl methacrylate with the aim to investigate the effect on the optical activity of the resulting derivatives. The copolymeric products have been fully characterized and their spectroscopic and thermal properties compared to those of the related optically active homopolymer and the copolymers with methyl methacrylate, previously reported.The optical activity displayed by the polymers is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformations assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of the insertion of co‐monomers capable of affecting the dipole‐dipole interactions that occur in these derivatives between the side‐chain bisazoaromatic chromophores disposed according to a mutual chiral arrangement.

The synthesis of three novel optically active monomers containing a side-chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic bisazoaromatic chromophore, such as (S)‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐1‐[4′‐phenylazo‐(4‐azobenzene)]‐pyrrolidine [(S)‐MPAAP], (S)‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐1‐[4′‐cyanophenylazo‐(4‐azobenzene)]‐pyrrolidine [(S)‐MPAAP‐C] and (S)‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐1‐[4′‐nitrophenylazo‐(4‐azobenzene)]‐pyrrolidine [(S)‐MPAAP‐N], is described. Each monomer has been radically homopolymerized to afford the corresponding optically active polymeric derivative, which have been characterized, in solution and in the solid state, and their properties compared to those of the monomers and of analogous homopolymers bearing only one azoaromatic chromophore in the side chain. The optical activity displayed by the polymers is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformation assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of their stiffness and the dipole‐dipole interactions between the bisazoaromatic chromophores.

Summary: A new optically active photochromic polymethacrylate containing the carbazole moiety, deriving from the chiral monomer (S)-(4‐cyanophenyl)‐(3‐{9‐[2‐(2‐methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy)ethyl]carbazolyl})diazene [(S)‐MLECA] has been prepared and fully characterized with the aim to obtain a multifunctional derivative possessing at the same time chemical moieties suitable to NLO and optical storage, to chiroptical switches, and to photorefractive and photoconductive applications. Spectroscopic, thermal and chiroptical characterizations clearly indicate the occurrence of dipolar interactions between chromophores and the presence of an ordered chiral conformation of one prevailing helical handedness, at least for chain segments of the macromolecules.Structure of poly[(S)-MLECA].

A series of bischelate ionic silver complexes [Ag(L*)2][X] was prepared by complexation of a newly synthesized 2,2′‐bipyridine containing chiral alkoxy chains in the 4,4′ positions. The appropriate choice of the construction motifs allows the preparation of new materials in which several functionalities can be introduced. Indeed, when the anion X−is a triflate or a dodecylsulfate group, the right combination of intermolecular interactions promotes the production of liquid crystalline mesophases. Therefore, the presence of coordinating anions, which drives the supramolecular assembly, is essential to generate, at the same time, room‐temperature columnar hexagonal mesomorphism, the columnar helical supramolecular structure, and excimeric emission.

Atom transfer radical polymerization has been applied for the first time to synthesize optically active, photochromic methacrylic polymers having three-arm star structure, starting from a central core of C3symmetry that can be used to investigate the conformational origin of chirality in this class of synthetic materials. By just changing the duration of the polymerization process, star-shaped macromolecules with distinct average chain lengths, low polydispersity values, and well-defined end groups have been obtained. The so-obtained polymers, fully characterized by spectroscopic and thermal techniques, exhibit relevant specific optical rotations and chiroptical properties with respect to the reference monomeric model compound as well as to the related linear derivatives previously investigated. This behavior is attributed to the stiffness of aromatic core, which limits the free movement of one chain end, thus favoring the macromolecules to assume a more elevated conformational rigidity with respect to the linear samples of comparable average chain length.

The synthesis by radical homopolymerization of a novel optically active methacrylic polymer containing a side‐chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic bisazoaromatic chromophore has been carried out starting from the related monomer (S)‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐1‐[4′‐phenylazo‐(4‐azobenzene)]‐pyrrolidine [(S)‐MPAAP]. The polymeric derivate has been fully characterized and its spectroscopic properties compared to those of the monomer and of the corresponding homopolymer bearing only one azoaromatic chromophore in the side chain. The optical activity displayed by the bisazo polymer is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformation assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of dipole‐dipole interactions between the bisazoaromatic chromophores.

Optically active photochromic copolymers of different composition, deriving from the conformationally rigid chiral monomer (S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-(4‘-nitro-4-azobenzene)pyrrolidine [(S)-MAP-N] and the isosteric and isopolar methacrylic ester of the flexible achiral chromophore 4‘-[(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylamino]-4-nitrobenzene [DR1M], have been prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state with the aim to investigate the effect on their thermal and chirooptical properties originated by the presence of isosteric and isopolar azoaromatic moieties in the side chain. The photoinduction of birefringence has been assessed on films of the investigated copolymers in order to evaluate their behavior as materials for optical data storage. The results are interpreted in terms of copolymer composition and different cooperative behavior and conformational stiffness of DR1M and (S)-MAP-N azoaromatic chromophoric counits.

To investigate interchromophore interactions in azobenzene polymers, we have undertaken a thorough spectroscopic analysis of the azodye [(S)‐3‐pivaloyloxy‐1‐(4′‐nitro‐4‐azobenzene)pyrrolidine] by modeling the repeating unit of poly[(S)‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐1‐(4′‐nitro‐4‐azobenzene)pyrrolidine) and its dimeric derivative whose synthesis is presented here. The analysis of the electronic and Raman spectra of the azodye in several solvents is based on a previously proposed model for polar chromophores in solution. Electronic and CD spectra of the dimeric unit are collected and analyzed within the framework of a new model. On the basis of the information collected from the spectroscopic analysis of the solvated dye, this model accounts for interchromophore interactions in the dimer. The large CD signal measured for the dimer (amounting to about a third of the signal measured for the polymer) suggests the presence of important chiral interactions in the dimeric unit, and is modeled in terms of a right‐handed relative orientation of the two chromophores.

The synthesis by radical homopolymerization of a novel optically active methacrylic polymer containing a side‐chain chiral moiety linked to a photochromic chromophore has been carried out starting from the related monomer trans‐(S)‐(+)‐N‐methyl‐(2‐methacryloyloxypropanoyl)‐4‐aminoazobenzene. The chiroptical properties in solution of the polymer have been investigated by circular dichroism and compared with those of the corresponding low molecular weight model compound, trans‐(S)‐(+)‐N‐methyl‐(2‐pivaloyloxypropanoyl)‐4‐aminoazobenzene. The optical activity displayed by the polymer is discussed in terms of extent of chiral conformations assumed by the macromolecules as a consequence of dipole‐dipole interactions between the azoaromatic chromophores.

We have investigated the photoinduced optical properties of a new class of chiral methacrylic polymers characterised by the presence in the side chain of an optically active pyrrolidinyl ring linked to a trans‐azoaromatic system. The homopolymers are enantiomerically pure and their strong optical activity indicates that the macromolecules assume, both in solution and in solid thin films, highly homogeneous conformations with a prevailing chirality. As expected, the studied polymers exhibit reversible linear dichroism and birefringence when irradiated with linearly polarised light. By irradiating with circularly polarised light, we have discovered that it is possible to photomodulate the chiroptical properties of the polymer films. After irradiation with L‐polarised light, the CD spectra of the films show a net inversion of their relative sign. The effect is reversible and the original shape of the CD spectra can be restored by pumping with R‐polarised radiation. This unexpected new phenomenon can be explained in terms of the ability of the L‐polarised radiation to invert the prevailing helicity of the polymeric chains. The observed effect seems to open new possibilities for the use of azobenzene‐containing materials as chiroptical switches.

The synthesis of novel optically active monomers, namely (S)-(+)- and (R)-(–)-2-methacryloyloxy-N-(4-azobenzene)succinimide and (S)-(+)-2-methacryloyloxy-N-(4'-nitro-4-azobenzene)succinimide, is described. The monomers have been radically polymerized to afford the corresponding optically active homopolymers, characterized by the presence of an optically active rigid succinimide ring in the side chain linked to the trans-azoaromatic system through the imide nitrogen atom. A series of copolymers containing both the enantiomeric monomers in different molar amounts, have also been prepared in order to observe possible effects on the optical activity of the resulting derivatives. The chiroptical and conformational properties of the polymers in solution have been investigated by circular dichroism measurements and compared with those of low molecular weight model compounds, purposely synthesized, with the aim to verify the existence of cooperative interactions between chromophoric groups disposed along the macromolecular chain according to dissymmetric conformations.

Novel optically active polymethacrylates, namely poly[(S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-(4-azobenzene)pyrrolidine] and poly[(S)-3-methacryloyloxy-1-(4'-nitro-4-azobenzene)pyrrolidine], have been synthesized by radical polymerization of the corresponding monomers, prepared in turn through a synthetic route preserving the asymmetric center by any racemization reaction. These homopolymers are characterized by the presence in the side chain of an optically active pyrrolidinyl ring linked to the trans-azoaromatic system through the nitrogen atom. The optical activity of the polymers in solution appears much higher than that observed with the low molecular weight models, purposely synthesized for comparison. Circular dichroism spectra of the synthesized products demonstrated that, in solution, the macromolecules assume highly homogeneous conformations with a prevailing chirality to a larger extent with respect to analogous systems previously investigated. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3257–3268, 1999

The synthesis of a novel optically active monomer containing a photochromic chromophore, trans-(S)-4-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy)-4´-formylazobenzene, is described. The monomer was radically homopolymerized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate to afford the corresponding optically active polymers, which were fully characterized. The chirooptical and conformational properties in solution of the resulting polymers were investigated by circular dichroism and solvatochromism measurements and compared with those of the corresponding low molecular weight model compound, trans-(S)-4-(2-pivaloyloxypropanoyloxy)-4´-formylazobenzene, purposely synthesized.

The synthesis of a novel optically active monomer containing a photochromic chromophore, trans-(S)-4-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy)-4´-formylazobenzene, is described. The monomer was radically homopolymerized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate to afford the corresponding optically active polymers, which were fully characterized. The chirooptical and conformational properties in solution of the resulting polymers were investigated by circular dichroism and solvatochromism measurements and compared with those of the corresponding low molecular weight model compound, trans-(S)-4-(2-pivaloyloxypropanoyloxy)-4´-formylazobenzene, purposely synthesized.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), with a demand expected to reach 194 ktons by 2022 and a global market increase to $48.7 billion are increasingly popular materials because of their ability to conjugate superior mechanical resistance and lightness, thus allowing their widespread application ranging from aerospace and wind turbines to automotive and sporting goods. A foreseeable consequence is the growth of production scraps and end-of-life composites. Considering the still high cost of the virgin carbon fiber (CF) and a CF demand expected to reach 117 ktons by 2022 (average of 30 €/kg and energetic cost of 183–286 MJ/kg), this review outlines recent advances of the existing methods to recycle cumulative composite wastes, still with many unresolved problems and issues, with emphasis on CF recovery and understanding their retained properties. Finally, a brief overview on the companies that offer carbon fiber reinforced polymer recovery services with the aim of addressing the issue of end of life is presented.