Advances in Recycling Process Modeling for CFRPs: A Literature Review

Managing large volumes of waste poses a critical environmental challenge, exacerbated by pollu-tion from landfilling and the substantial energy consumption and costs associated with manufac-turing specialized materials. Efficient recycling methods play a crucial role in mitigating this im-pact by facilitating the reuse of components from materials that have not yet reached the end of their life cycle. This challenge is particularly pressing for carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), widely used in aerospace applications, for which traditional recycling methods fre-quently fail to effectively separate composite components or produce recycled materials that meet the stringent specifications required for reuse. This review centers on the theoretical foundations of advanced recycling methods, with a particular focus on the analytical approaches of pyrolysis and solvolysis—two promising techniques for recycling CFRPs. It delves into the dissolution mechanisms of thermosetting matrices, emphasizing fundamental theoretical concepts, kinetic analysis equations, and the role of modeling through various simulation software. The review also highlights critical kinetic parameters such as activation energy and reaction rate constants, which are instrumental in optimizing these recycling processes. Through an integration of analytical calculations, simulation models, and experimental data from the literature, the review evaluates the efficiency and quality of products derived from pyrolysis and solvolysis. This comprehensive approach underscores the importance of modeling in improving the sustainability of CFRP recy-cling and advancing the development of high-quality, reusable materials.