Rapid removal of resin from a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic laminate by a high-voltage electrical treatment

Removal of epoxy resin from a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminate was achieved with an electrical treatment. The treatment was carried out using a two-electrode cell with the CFRP laminate as the anode, and the effect of applying a high voltage was investigated to reduce the treatment time. The results showed that a high voltage in the electrical treatment leads to high weight loss of the unidirectional CFRP laminate. In the digital microscope images of the residue obtained from the electrolyte after the treatment, fragments assumed to be resin were observed. The removal mechanism involved an electrochemical reaction; however, no decomposition product related to the resin was detected in the electrolyte after the treatment. The results supposed that the removal mechanism of the electrical treatment involved peeling off the resin by gas generated by water electrolysis.