CC BY 4.0Rechsteiner, FabianFabianRechsteinerRaimondi, LucaLucaRaimondiTegas, NicolaNicolaTegasDonati, LorenzoLorenzoDonatiManis, FrankFrankManis2025-08-042025-08-042025-08-10https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/490112https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-497910.1016/j.jclepro.2025.14604410.24406/publica-4979The utilization of recycled carbon fibers (rCF) in thermoplastic and thermoset composites shows significant potential in terms of economic and ecological benefits. rCFs offer a cost-effective alternative to virgin fibers with savings in energy and resources, contributing to a better ecological performance of the material. Currently, there is limited knowledge on the mechanical performance of non-wovens out of rCF. Therefore, this study uses production waste of virgin carbon textiles to investigate the mechanical properties of rCF composite materials utilizing two distinct nonwoven manufacturing techniques (dry-laid and wet-laid). The textiles are each combined with two different polymers: a thermoplastic PA66/6I and a thermosetting polymer based on an epoxy resin. Following this, three different characterization tests, following ASTM standards, analysing different mechanical properties are carried out: tensile, flexural, and compressive. Optical analysis was conducted to assess the impregnation quality of the fibers and the matrix as well as a fiber volume determination through wetchemical analysis. Mechanical tests show that dry-laid-nonwovens have high, repeatable stiffness (18-28 GPa) across all stress modes and superior cross-direction performance due to carding, while wet-laid-nonwovens offer uniform stiffness (16-26 GPa) with more isotropic behavior.enrecycling--composite materialscomposite materials--mechanical propertiessustainable engineeringrecycling--carbon fibersrecycled carbon fiber (rCF)thermoplastic compositesnonwoven manufacturing technique--dry-laidnonwoven manufacturing technique--wet-laidcompression moldingthermosetting composites600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::660 Chemische Verfahrenstechnik::668 Technik anderer organischer Produktejournal article