Application of eco-efficiency analysis to assess three different recycling technologies for carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs)

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the eco-efficiency of three different recycling technologies for carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) waste, and to identify the preferable and most efficient solution. Recycling via mechanical shredding, microwave pyrolysis and subcritical solvolysis is compared and comprehensive primary data on energy demand and process throughput are examined. Following an ecological and economic assessment, the results are normalized and summarized into three single-score indicators. To decide which solution is most efficient, economic and ecological data are plotted on an eco-efficiency portfolio. The achieved results demonstrate that the eco-efficiency of the recycling technologies investigated is entirely positive on an industrial scale, and that the efficient use of CFRPs across the entire life cycle is possible. The material recycling of CFRP waste is consequently a promising topic for future development. The use of recycled material a s conductivity additives in secondary applications can be considered as a valuable option for all three technologies, although the benefits of recycling are strongly dependent on the quality and quantity of the recycled material. Depending on the resources substituted in a secondary application, different recycling technologies offer considerable advantages. To ensure a consistently high quality of output materials on an industrial scale, specific process parameters have to be identified, for which, further research is necessary.