Reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor and method of producing recycled reinforcing fibers
Provided are a reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor and a method of producing recycled reinforcing fibers capable of maintaining the shape and orientation of reinforcing fiber bundles when the reinforcing fibers are separated from a fiber-reinforced resin material by a solvent method. Provided is a reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor used for recovering reinforcing fibers from a fiber-reinforced resin material by a solvent method, the reactor comprising: a reaction vessel that can accommodate the fiber-reinforced resin material and a solvent; and a fixing mechanism comprising a pressing member capable of pressing the fiber-reinforced resin material, the fixing mechanism being capable of fixing the accommodated fiber-reinforced resin material by pressing the fiber-reinforced resin material with the pressing member.
1 . A reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor used for recovering reinforcing fibers from a fiber-reinforced resin material by a solvent method, the reactor comprising:
a reaction vessel that can accommodate the fiber-reinforced resin material and a solvent; and
a fixing structure comprising a pressing structure capable of pressing the fiber-reinforced resin material, the fixing structure being capable of fixing the accommodated fiber-reinforced resin material by pressing the fiber-reinforced resin material with the pressing structure,
wherein the pressing structure has a pressing surface configured to be pressed against the fiber-reinforced resin material, the pressing structure being reciprocable in a direction perpendicular to the pressing surface.
2 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 1 , wherein
the pressing structure has a plate shape.
3 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 1 , wherein
the fixing structure comprises a support to support the fiber-reinforced resin material between the pressing structure and the support.
4 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 3 , wherein
the support has a plate shape.
5 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 3 , wherein
the support is reciprocable toward and away from the pressing structure.
6 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 3 , further comprising
an elastic structure that supports the support.
7 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 6 , wherein
the elastic structure is a compression coil spring.
8 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 3 , further comprising
a regulating structure that regulates movement of the support.
9 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 1 , wherein
the reaction vessel has an opening for introducing the fiber-reinforced resin material, and the reaction vessel is configured to be tiltable to tilt the opening downward.
10 . The reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 1 , wherein
the reinforcing fibers comprise carbon fibers.
11 . A method of producing recycled reinforcing fibers, the method comprising
a step of subjecting a fiber-reinforced resin material comprising reinforcing fibers and a resin component to treatment with a treatment solution comprising a solvent using the reinforcing-fiber recovery reactor according to claim 1 to dissolve at least part of the resin component in the treatment solution, wherein
the fiber-reinforced resin material is subjected to treatment with the treatment solution in the step while being fixed by the fixing structure.
12 . The method of producing recycled reinforcing fibers according to claim 11 , wherein
the solvent is agitated in the step while the fiber-reinforced resin material is fixed.