Search

With the rise in carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) usage, there is a growing occurrence of waste disposal, prompting the exploration of different recycling methods. The primary methods of recycling include separating carbon fibers and resin from discarded CFRP products or reusing scraps generated during CFRP production, such as dry fabric or prepreg. Recycling leftover dry fabric is essential for waste management in the automotive industry. Current research is centered on utilizing recycled materials to produce anisotropic mats, presenting difficulties in managing variations in properties. Moreover, isotropic mats are the preferred choice for practical automotive component design. Our research aimed to solve this problem by creating recycled carbon fiber (rCF) mats with isotropic characteristics through a wet method to enhance even fiber spreading. Conditions to minimize property changes in the fabric based on direction were identified, and the mats were tailored accordingly. Then, the resin was impregnated into the mats using compression resin transfer molding to form CFRP. The static properties of the CFRP specimens produced were evaluated to identify conditions that maximize isotropy. Furthermore, observations of oil injection into rCF mats showed that resin track formation was reduced when CFRP was fabricated using isotropic mats.

In this study, the antimicrobial and photodegradation properties of nylon fabric were improved by chemical treatment using 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPTMS), which binds to photocatalyst TiO2, on a nylon fabric surface. The nylon fibers were impregnated with a solution containing isopropanol, titanium dioxide (TiO2), and 3-MPTMS at optimum ratios, and then stirred for 90 min. To remove the nonreactive impurities, the sample was washed twice with isopropanol and distilled water, and then dried. The TiO2concentration, agitation temperature, and time were varied to determine suitable coating conditions for attachment to the nylon surface; the resulting properties were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy. To evaluate the antimicrobial and photodegradation properties of TiO2, antimicrobial tests were conducted using the microbial reduction method and contact angle tests. The fiber contamination rate was measured by computer color matching after the sample was contaminated with methylene blue. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of Staphylococcus aureusand Escherichia colistrains on the treated nylon was investigated.