Recovery of Carbon Fibers from Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics Using Microwave-Assisted Sulfuric Acid Treatment and Reuse of Recycled Carbon Fibers

In this study, a microwave-assisted sulfuric acid recovery method is proposed for the efficient recovery of high-value carbon fibers at 100–140 °C. The recycled carbon fibers (RCF) were characterized, and recycled carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (RCFRP) were fabricated using their fibers. The recycling process preserved the surface morphology of the carbon fibers, with the RCF maintaining the axial groove structure on the surface of the virgin carbon fiber (VCF). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy analyses confirmed that the degree of graphitization and crystalline structure of the RCF remained largely unchanged compared to the original carbon fibers. Surface oxidation occurred during the recycling process, leading to an increase in O–C=O content on the surface of the RCF compared to that of the VCF, which facilitated interfacial chemical bonding with the resin and enhanced the wettability. Compared to virgin carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (VCFRP), RCFRP retained up to 95.25% of the tensile strength, 97.47% of the shear strength, and 96.76% of the bending stress, demonstrating excellent mechanical properties. This study provides a simple and effective approach for the low-temperature and high-efficiency recycling of carbon fiber composites.