Advances in Composite Carbon Fibers

A special issue of Journal of Composites Science (ISSN 2504-477X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fiber Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1530

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Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
Interests: nanotechnology; materials processing; manufacturing; mechanical design
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Composite carbon fibers consist of multiple phases, a continuous carbon phase and additive phases. The continuous carbon fiber phase serves as the matrix, which provides the mechanical strength for the composite fibers. The additive phases including oxide particles, carbon nanotubes, organic or inorganic coatings, and graphene sheets are functional components. Such functional components allow composite carbon fibers to be useful in various fields. For example, ceramics-coated carbon fibers can improve the thermal shock and ablation property of high-temperature-resistant composite materials. Bi–Te or Sb–Te particle-containing carbon fibers demonstrate excellent thermoelectric energy conversion performance. Iron-oxide-loaded carbon fibers have been considered to be used as anode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. Titanium oxide nanoparticle-embedded carbon fibers show photovoltaic behavior. Composite carbon fibers are also proposed for building flexible sensors and energy convertors.

The objective of this Special Issue is to provide a forum for researchers to publish important findings and exchange ideas on the fundamental studies and applications of composite carbon fibers. Research papers and review articles are welcome. The scope of the Special Issue is on, but not limited to, the following topics: composite carbon fiber processing and manufacturing technology, structure and morphology studies, mechanical testing, physical property characterization, electrochemical performance evaluation, and exploration of new applications.

Prof. Dr. Yong X. Gan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • composite carbon fiber
  • processing method
  • manufacturing technology
  • activated composite carbon fiber
  • particle-containing carbon fiber
  • nanotube-added carbon fiber
  • coating on carbon fiber
  • energy storage
  • mechanical property
  • failure mechanisms
  • sensing
  • energy conversion
  • environment protection
  • water purification
  • high temperature resistance
  • oxidation prevention
  • catalysis
  • biomedical applications
  • photovoltaics
  • thermoelectricity
  • flexible electronics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 5487 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Environmental and Economic Analysis of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Recycling Processes Using Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing
by Christina Vogiantzi and Konstantinos Tserpes
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9010039 - 15 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1336
Abstract
The recycling of carbon-fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) presents significant challenges due to their thermosetting matrix, which complicates end-of-life management and often results in energy-intensive disposal or significant waste accumulation. Despite advancements in recycling methods, knowledge gaps remain regarding their sustainability and economic viability. [...] Read more.
The recycling of carbon-fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) presents significant challenges due to their thermosetting matrix, which complicates end-of-life management and often results in energy-intensive disposal or significant waste accumulation. Despite advancements in recycling methods, knowledge gaps remain regarding their sustainability and economic viability. This study undertakes a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Life Cycle Costing analysis of four key recycling techniques: mechanical recycling, pyrolysis, solvolysis, and high-voltage fragmentation (HVF). By using the SimaPro software, this study identifies mechanical recycling and HVF as the most sustainable options, with the lowest cumulative energy demand (CED) of 5.82 MJ/kg and 4.97 MJ/kg and global warming potential (GWP) of 0.218 kg CO2eq and 0.0796 kg CO2eq, respectively. In contrast, pyrolysis imposes the highest environmental burdens, requiring 66.3 MJ/kg and emitting 2.84 kg CO2eq. Subcritical solvolysis shows more balanced environmental impacts compared to its supercritical counterpart. Cost analysis reveals that for mechanical recycling and pyrolysis, material costs are negligible or zero. In contrast, solvolysis and HVF incur material costs primarily due to the need for deionized water. Regarding energy costs, pyrolysis stands out as the most expensive method due to its high energy demands, followed closely by solvolysis with supercritical water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Composite Carbon Fibers)
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