Potential of and Current Challenges in Reusing Recycled Carbon Fibres in Concrete Construction Applications

The non-corrosive properties of carbon fibres allow for slimmer concrete components, which may reduce CO2 emissions during production. Given that cement production contributes approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions, finding alternatives is crucial. Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) employs technical textiles instead of steel reinforcements and has been extensively studied for its mechanical properties. Carbon’s high tensile strength allows for significantly reduced mass compared to steel while eliminating additional cover requirements. Although producing recycled carbon fibres (rCFs) is energy-intensive, it offers significant energy and raw material savings and can lower global warming risks compared to virgin fibres. This study investigates the potential of rCFs in various forms as concrete reinforcement, highlighting both opportunities and challenges based on experimental results and existing studies. The investigations demonstrated that rCFs, whether used as nonwoven or yarn reinforcement, enhance both the tensile and yield strength of concrete. Furthermore, in many instances, a gradual failure mode rather than an abrupt one is observed. Consequently, the use of rCF textiles as reinforcement in concrete presents significant potential for promoting sustainability within the construction industry. The integration of rCF into carbon concrete presents a promising pathway to enhance the sustainability of construction materials.