Carbon fiber materials feature lightweight, high mechanical strength, good corrosion resistance, and low thermal expansion. These are widely used in the industrial fields of aerospace, automobile, and construction. To meet the increasing demand for carbon fibers, the recycling of carbon fiber materials plays a crucial role in the sustainable usage of carbon fibers.

A recently published patent discloses a recycling system for reclaiming carbon fiber materials using solar energy. The system requires minimum energy for recycling the carbon fiber materials and reduces carbon emission to a great extent. The system includes a solar focusing system for heating carbon fiber by irradiation from focused sunlight. The system includes a sample platform for the placement of carbon fiber material. Further, the solar focusing system includes heliostats and planar reflectors for focusing sunlight on the sample platform. A first portion of the carbon fiber may be removed from the heat irradiated from the solar focusing system. Further, the system may include a furnace for heating the carbon fiber material to remove a second portion of carbon fiber.

The system includes a waste gas treatment system for removing acidic substances and particulate dust from a gas pipe fixed to a periphery of the sample platform. This in turn reduces harmful emissions produced during the recycling of the carbon fibers.

https://patentyogi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/US11079140-1.pdf