Method for the Utilisation of Carbon Fibres (cf) or Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Plastics

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This patent describes a method for recycling and safely disposing of carbon fibers (CF) and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP/CFK) by introducing them into a high-temperature molten slag phase in metallurgical processes. The carbon content in these materials is oxidized to carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide within the turbulent molten slag mixture, which can also contain metal oxides that are reduced in the process. This enables both the energetic and chemical utilization of carbon fiber waste, preventing its release into the environment and allowing for concurrent metal recovery from the slag.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Recycling of end-of-life carbon fiber composite parts (e.g. from wind turbine blades, aerospace, or automotive components).
• Safe thermal disposal of carbon fiber waste that cannot be recycled mechanically or chemically.
• Support for metal recovery processes in metallurgical industries by using carbon fiber waste as a reducing agent.
• Use in industries such as steel, copper, zinc, lead, and tin to enhance the reduction of metal oxides during smelting, while disposing of fiber-reinforced polymer waste.
• Treatment of hazardous or difficult-to-handle CFRP waste materials in specialized thermal facilities.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solution for carbon fiber waste that is traditionally difficult to dispose of or recycle.
• Prevents hazardous fiber emissions, reducing health and environmental risks associated with airborne CF/CFRP particles.
• Improves metallurgical process efficiency by utilizing waste as a reductant and recovering valuable metals.
• Reduces reliance on conventional reducing agents such as coke, lowering process costs and carbon footprint.
• Offers a versatile method deployable in multiple metallurgical furnace types and adaptable to various slag and waste compositions.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recovering carbon fibers (CF) or carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFK), in particular to a method for recovering and/or cleaning carbon-containing carbon fibers (CF) and carbon fiber-containing and/or carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFK) in a metallurgical slag system by means of carbon oxidation in the molten slag phase, in which the carbon fibers (CF) and carbon fiber-containing and/or carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFK) are introduced into a reaction chamber of a suitable plant. At least one slag and/or at least one slag product and/or at least one molten slag is brought to a temperature of 1000 to 2500 DEG C in order to obtain a molten slag phase, and CF and/or CFK are introduced into the molten slag phase and mixed therewith in order to form a reaction mixture, in which the continuous mixing of the reaction mixture takes place while forming a turbulent flow, wherein the carbon of CF and/or CFK is oxidized to CO and/or CO2, and wherein a) the at least one slag and/or the at least one slag product and/or the at least one molten slag and/or the at least one molten slag phase contains or is added to at least one metal oxide that can be reduced by carbon.