Patent ID: 8863809

Claim:
A method for recycling a cured composite laminate material into a delaminated recyclate that maintains a fiber volume fraction and a lamina level fiber alignment substantially the same as the cured composite laminate material, the method comprising: treating a cured composite laminate material by comprising a resin matrix and a plurality of fibers having a fiber volume fraction and a lamina level fiber alignment, by soaking in one or more liquid solvents so that the cured composite laminate material substantially absorbs the one or more liquid solvents; removing the one or more liquid solvents not absorbed by the cured composite laminate material; and, a first heating step of heating the cured composite laminate material substantially absorbed with the one or more liquid solvents to a temperature below a lowest solvent boiling point of the one or more liquid solvents, and then a second heating step of heating more rapidly than the first heating step the cured composite laminate material substantially absorbed with the one or more liquid solvents to a temperature above a highest solvent boiling point of the one or more liquid solvents, so as to effect a liquid-to-gas phase change of the one or more liquid solvents in order to delaminate the cured composite laminate material; and, wherein the first and second heating steps result in a delaminated recyclate that maintains a fiber volume fraction and a lamina level fiber alignment substantially the same as the cured composite laminate material.