Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Process diagram of amine cured epoxy resin carbon fiber composite material degradation by acetic acid/H2O2 system.

ABSTRACT
The recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites remains challenging due to their stable three-dimensional cross-linked networks. This is particularly true for amine-cured epoxies, where the short bond length, low polarity, and poor reactivity of C–N bonds make cleavage difficult. This study investigates an acetic acid/H2O2 oxidative system for resin degradation and carbon fiber recovery from amine-cured composites. Using LC-MS, FTIR, SEM, and XPS, we analyzed the degradation kinetics, mechanism, and properties of reclaimed fibers. Results show that complete resin degradation was achieved within 25 min at 110°C under atmospheric pressure using a mixture of 25 mL acetic acid, 25 mL benzyl alcohol and 5 mL H2O2 to treat 1.8 g composite with 55 wt% resin (acetic acid-to-H2O2 mass ratio 5:1). The degradation mechanism involves peracetic acid generated in situ from acetic acid and H2O2, producing acetoxy radicals that selectively cleave C–N cross-links. The reclaimed fibers retained over 97% of their tensile strength despite a doubled surface oxygen content due to H2O2 oxidation. This method offers a new strategy for degrading amine-cured epoxies and demonstrates potential for scalable CFRP recycling, contributing to sustainable composite management.