TY - JOUR A1 - Rodricks, Carol Winnifred A1 - Prockat, Annabell A1 - Kalinka, Gerhard A1 - Trappe, Volker T1 - Novel Recyclable Hierarchical Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites: Preserving Fiber Length and Orientation Using Elium N2 - Current recycling methods for polymer matrix composites produce short, unoriented carbon fibers, limiting their use to intermediate‐strength applications. A method is therefore needed to recycle fibers while preserving their original length and orientation, enabling a circular economy for carbon fiber composites. This study proposes a novel hierarchical composite designed to retain fiber length and orientation during recycling. Virgin carbon fibers are encased in an insoluble epoxy matrix to form tapes that act as the primary units of the structure. The primary tape matrix shields the fibers from chemical degradation while preserving their alignment throughout recycling. The tapes are then embedded in a secondary recyclable matrix, Elium, a thermoplastic polymer soluble in acetone with mechanical properties comparable to epoxy. The composite is recycled by dissolving the secondary Elium matrix in acetone and recovering the primary tape units with intact fiber length and orientation. The primary units can then be used to assemble new composites. In this study, hierarchical composite laminates underwent recycling up to three times. Their mechanical properties were assessed after each cycle. Laminates with an Elium secondary matrix retained 60%–90% of the mechanical performance of epoxy‐based laminates. Minimal degradation was observed between cycles, and fiber length, orientation, and volume fraction were fully preserved. Pushout tests confirmed that fibers in the primary tapes were sufficiently shielded during the recycling process. These results validate the feasibility of a hierarchical recyclable composite that combines recyclability with high mechanical performance, serving as a proof of concept and providing opportunities for future development. KW - Review KW - Interface KW - Micromechanics KW - Polymer matrix composites KW - Glass fibre reinforced composites PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655276 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.70869 SN - 0272-8397 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Wiley Periodicals LLC. AN - OPUS4-65527 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rodricks, Carol T1 - Recyclable or One-Way Composites? Evaluating the Durability of Elium vs. Epoxy Glass Fibre Composites N2 - Fibre-reinforced polymers are widely used, particularly in lightweight construction, due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and versatility. The expansion of wind turbines calls for ever-lighter materials, and polymer matrix composites are well-positioned to meet this need, offering the necessary strength and long-term durability with reduced weight. However, conventional thermoset composites, such as epoxy-based systems, pose significant recycling challenges as they cannot be easily reprocessed or remoulded. A promising alternative is Elium, a novel thermoplastic resin that offers mechanical properties similar to thermoset polymers while providing the added benefit of chemical recyclability through solvolysis in acetone. This raises an important question: can a recyclable Elium composite match or even surpass the durability of a conventional epoxy composite, particularly in demanding structural applications? In our study, we compare the fatigue performance of Elium (191SA, 151-XO) glass fibre composites to conventional epoxy (RIMR 135, RIMH 137) glass fibre composites. Results indicate that Elium composites demonstrate superior fatigue resistance compared to their epoxy counterparts. The combination of enhanced fatigue durability and chemical recyclability highlights the potential of Elium composites as a sustainable alternative to conventional epoxy-based systems for long-term structural applications. T2 - Materials Week 2025 CY - Frankfurt am Main, Germany DA - 02.04.2025 KW - Polymer matrix composites KW - Recycling KW - Elium KW - Fatigue performance PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62936 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Colombo, Marta A1 - Mostoni, Silvia A1 - Fredi, Giulia A1 - Rodricks, Carol A1 - Kalinka, Gerhard A1 - Riva, Massimiliano A1 - Vassallo, Andrea A1 - Di Credico, Barbara A1 - Scotti, Roberto A1 - Zappalorto, Michele A1 - D'Arienzo, Massimiliano T1 - Interfacial Chemistry Behind Damage Monitoring in Glass Fiber‐Reinforced Composites: Attempts and Perspectives N2 - Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRPs) are widely used in structural applications but degrade over time due to internal damage. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) enables early damage detection, improving reliability and reducing maintenance costs. Traditional SHM methods are often invasive and expensive. An emerging solution involves the embedding of carbon‐based filler like carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide into GFRPs, forming conductive networks that detect damage through resistance changes. However, poor adhesion among GF, filler, and matrix can reduce mechanical performance. Therefore, tailoring GF and filler surface chemistry is essential to enhance durability and enable effective self‐sensing properties. This review summarizes the most recent efforts in modifying GF with carbon‐based filler to design GFRP with improved sensing ability and mechanical performance. After a brief introduction on the role of SHM solutions in early damage detection, an overview of the common GF and filler used in GFRPs will be provided. Then, the most relevant GF modification strategies exploited to incorporate carbon‐based filler in GFRPs will be described, focusing on the chemical grafting approach, which allows a careful optimization of the fiber/matrix interface. Last, a concise summary of the key mechanical and electrical tests to evaluate interfacial adhesion and self‐sensing will be supplied. KW - Review KW - Interface KW - Micromechanics KW - Polymer matrix composites KW - Glass fibre reinforced composites PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-639934 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.70332 SN - 0272-8397 SP - 1 EP - 30 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-63993 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhandarov, S. A1 - Mäder, E. A1 - Kalinka, Gerhard A1 - Scheffler, C. A1 - Poitzsch, C. A1 - Fliescher, S. T1 - Investigation of interfacial strength parameters in polymer matrix composites: Compatibility and reproducibility N2 - Effects of various geometrical and physical factors, as well as the method of data reduction (analysis of experimental forceedisplacement curves) on the values of local interfacial strength parameters (local IFSS, td, and critical energy release rate, Gic) determined by means of a single fiber pull-out test are discussed. Experimental results of our pull-out tests on several fiberepolymer matrix systems showed that td and Gic weakly depended on geometrical factors. However, the pull-out test appeared to be sensitive to the conditions of specimen formation and testing, such as changing the nature of the contacting surfaces (fiber sizing) and the fiber pull-out rate. Of several methods of td and Gic Determination from a forceedisplacement curve, the most reliable and reproducible one is the approach based on the values of the maximum force recorded in a pull-out test and the interfacial frictional force immediately after fiber debonding. KW - Interface KW - Interfacial shear strength KW - Pull-out composite materials KW - Polymer matrix composites KW - Critical energy release rate KW - Geometrical factors PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-460918 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aiepr.2018.06.002 SN - 2542-5048 VL - 1 IS - 1 SP - 82 EP - 92 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-46091 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -