Research Projects

Composite materials are becoming more used across a wide range of industries, and as a result, knowledge of their waste management collection and disposal is growing. The recycling of fibre-reinforced thermoset plastic waste from production and end-of-life is a method that entails recovering the fibres from the matrix through matrix degradation and then retrieving and up cycling them into new filler materials. The sort of fibres that make up the material has a considerable impact on the recycling method chosen. CFRP is naturally challenging to recycle because CFRPs largely utilise cross-linked thermoset polymers for their matrices, which cannot be re-melted. Despite the difficulty, research on waste treatment for composite materials has kept an eye on enhancing recyclability, and in recent years the ability to recycle Carbon fibre from CFRPs has substantially increased. The chemical treatments are considered for carbon fibre composites to recover the fibres with the least amount of damage feasible, maintaining their significant value. The recovered carbon fibres are milled and used as fillers in glass/epoxy composites to investigate moisture absorption and mechanical properties. The volume of data that will be gathered allows for the use and utilisation of deep learning algorithms for the prediction of composites' longevity by constructing a neural network. Furthermore, the composite's damage resistance will be investigated by mapping the Acoustic emission data with that of the image obtained and processed by image processing technique. Digital Image Correlation, which compares the pictures of loaded components, offers a precise assessment of displacements. Acoustic emission was employed internationally for online structural health monitoring. Combining the two approaches aids in addressing their distinct drawbacks. The difficulty in interpreting sound waves was made easier by visual images, as was the difficulty in using optical techniques for pragmatic, substantial purposes. This work proposes a sustainable development of a new material with the inclusion of recycled milled carbon fibres and to increase the out of plane and interlaminar strength properties of the composites. This contribution is also an attempt to provide a cost-effective solution by minimizing the environmental effects of waste and ramping up resource efficiency through recycling and reusing waste as a resource.