IP Library Granted Patent US 12667998
Granted Patent B2
US 12667998 · App. 18/173,090 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Method and device for recycling carbon fiber-reinforced resin

Inventors: Masato Noguchi (Saitama, JP); Mitsuharu Kan (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
B29B17/0206B09B3/40B09B2101/007B29K2063/00B29K2307/04B29L2031/7172
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12667998
App. No.
18/173,090
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin including a carbon fiber and a matrix resin is provided, and the method includes: a first heating step of heating the carbon fiber-reinforced resin to decompose the matrix resin so as to obtain an intermediate in which the decomposition residue of the matrix resin is adhered to the carbon fiber; an unwinding step of unwinding an intermediate fiber from the intermediate; a second heating step of heating the unwound intermediate fiber to decompose the decomposition residue of the matrix resin adhered to the intermediate fiber so as to obtain a recycled carbon fiber; and a winding step of winding the recycled carbon fiber.

Claims (16)

1 . A method for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin including a carbon fiber and a matrix resin, the method comprising:

a first heating step of heating, in a heat treatment furnace, the carbon fiber-reinforced resin to decompose the matrix resin so as to obtain an intermediate in which a decomposition residue of the matrix resin is adhered to the carbon fiber;

an unwinding step of unwinding an intermediate fiber from the intermediate;

a second heating step of heating the unwound intermediate fiber to decompose the decomposition residue of the matrix resin adhered to the intermediate fiber so as to obtain a recycled carbon fiber; and

a winding step of winding the recycled carbon fiber.

2 . The method for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin according to claim 1 , wherein the first heating step comprises: a first step of decomposing the matrix resin for 1.5 hours or more at a temperature equal to or greater than a thermal decomposition start temperature of the matrix resin and equal to or less than a flash point of a thermal decomposition gas of the matrix resin; and a second step of decomposing the matrix resin decomposed in the first step at a temperature equal to or greater than a thermal oxidative decomposition start temperature of the decomposition residue of the matrix resin and equal to or less than a thermal decomposition start temperature of the carbon fiber.

3 . The method for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced resin is included in a tank.

4 . A device for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin including a carbon fiber and a matrix resin, the device comprising:

a heat treatment furnace that heats the carbon fiber-reinforced resin to decompose the matrix resin so as to obtain an intermediate in which a decomposition residue of the matrix resin is adhered to the carbon fiber;

an unwinder that unwinds an intermediate fiber from the intermediate;

a tubular furnace that heats the unwound intermediate fiber to decompose the decomposition residue of the matrix resin adhered to the intermediate fiber so as to obtain a recycled carbon fiber; and

a winder that winds the recycled carbon fiber.

5 . The device for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin according to claim 4 , further comprising: a mass detector that detects a mass of the carbon fiber-reinforced resin in the heat treatment furnace.

6 . The device for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin according to claim 4 , wherein the carbon fiber-reinforced resin is included in a tank.

7 . The device for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin according to claim 6 , further comprising: a rotator that rotates the tank in the heat treatment furnace.

8 . The device for recycling a carbon fiber-reinforced resin according to claim 7 , wherein the rotator comprises a rotation shaft in a substantially horizontal direction.