--- title: "Recycled Carbon Fiber from Automotive Waste" id: "10930" type: "post" slug: "recycled-carbon-fiber-from-automotive-waste" published_at: "2026-04-08T13:20:27+00:00" modified_at: "2026-04-01T13:22:44+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/recycled-carbon-fiber-from-automotive-waste-010930/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/recycled-carbon-fiber-from-automotive-waste-010930.md" excerpt: "Automotive recycling combines EOL bumpers with carbon fiber scraps. This rCF-rPP composite increases stiffness and diverts plastic from landfills." taxonomy_category: - "Automotive & Transportation" - "Business" - "Circular Economy" - "Composites" - "Compounding" - "Design" - "Education & Training" - "Industry" - "Materials" - "Polyolefins" - "Polypropylene" - "Process" - "Recycling" - "Resins" - "Sustainability" - "Thermoforming" - "Thermosets" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Automotive bumper waste" - "CFRP manufacturing scrap" - "End-of-life (EOL) vehicles" - "FTIR spectroscopy" - "polypropylene recycling" - "rCF-rPP composites" - "Sustainable vehicle manufacturing." - "Tensile and flexural testing" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/) » [Automotive & Transportation](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/automotive-transportation/) » Recycled Carbon Fiber from Automotive Waste # Recycled Carbon Fiber from Automotive Waste Researchers are seeking new recycling pathways for automotive waste, from both end-of-life (EOL) vehicles and manufacturing scraps.### Automotive recycling combines EOL bumpers with carbon fiber scraps. This rCF-rPP composite increases stiffness and diverts plastic from landfills. Plastic components from EOL automobiles, such as bumpers, often end up in the landfill. Tangentially, the carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) industry generates significant manufacturing waste. Manufacturers primarily dispose of CFRP scraps from automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications in landfills or incineration plants. Finding recycling pathways for this valuable material is a significant area of study. One such pathway is a composite comprised of [EOL car bumper plastics and recycled carbon fiber](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682026000022) (rCF). This composite reduces waste while enhancing mechanical performance, with potential applications in non-critical automotive parts and other commercial applications. **You can also read:** [Lightweight Suspension Design with Polymer–Metal Hybrids](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2025/09/lightweight-suspension-design-with-polymer-metal-hybrids-009780/) ## Composite from Carbon Fiber and Car Bumpers To create the composite, researchers obtained carbon fiber scrap from manufacturing plants. They sourced four brands of discarded car bumpers from a car garage company in Thailand. Additionally, they purchased commercial-grade polypropylene (PP) to compare the mechanical properties of virgin material to those of the recycled bumpers. Researchers prepared each material to obtain the rCF-recycled polypropylene (rPP) composite. Figure courtesy of [Recycled composite materials from plastic parts of end-of-life vehicles mixed with recycled carbon fiber from automotive manufacturing waste.](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682026000022) The study conducted tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness testing, and measured the density of the composite. They found that carbon fiber recycling was achievable at 500 °C with a 60 min holding time. These parameters were optimal for obtaining a clean fiber surface. Researchers assessed five properties of the composite at 0, 5, and 10 wt.% rCF. Figure courtesy of [Recycled composite materials from plastic parts of end-of-life vehicles mixed with recycled carbon fiber from automotive manufacturing waste.](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682026000022) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) determined whether the manufacturers of the bumpers coated them before disposal. The bumpers from all four brands exhibited transmittance peaks in the range 1,725-1,730 cm-1. This peak was absent in virgin PP and new, unpainted bumpers. These additional functional groups likely originated from the bumpers’ surface coatings, curing agents, and/or additives from their paint. ## Two Components, Working Synergistically Generally, composites made from virgin materials exhibit greater mechanical performance than those made with recycled plastics. However, testing showed that the rigidity of this recycled composite increased as the rCF content rose. In this system, rCF contributes high stiffness and mechanical reinforcement. Meanwhile, the rPP from the car bumpers provides the necessary ductility and processability. Together, these two components result in a value-adding material that creates a new avenue for two distinct automotive waste streams. ## Materials for Sustainable Vehicle Manufacturing As automakers strive to reduce their environmental impact, composites like this one can help reduce waste. Recycling polypropylene automotive components diverts them from the landfill. Carbon fiber is challenging to recycle, and energy-intensive to manufacture. By enhancing rPP’s performance with waste carbon fiber, auto manufacturers can reduce the need for the extraction By **[Julienne Smith](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/juliennesmith/)** | April 8, 2026 ##### [Julienne Smith](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/juliennesmith/) [+ postsBio ⮌](#) - Julienne Smith [Mechanical Recycling of Polyolefins in Food Packaging](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/mechanical-recycling-of-polyolefins-in-food-packaging-011336/) - Julienne Smith [Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) - Julienne Smith [Renewable Functional Coatings for Advanced Applications](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/renewable-functional-coatings-for-advanced-applications-011134/) - Julienne Smith [Nanocomposite Films from Car Bumper Waste](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/nanocomposite-films-from-car-bumper-waste-011041/) ### Other posts you could read [April 24, 2026Emerging Markets for Polyolefins in the Solar Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/emerging-markets-for-polyolefins-in-the-solar-industry-011128/) [May 7, 2026PCR Plastics Are Redefining Aesthetic Standards](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/pcr-plastics-are-redefining-aesthetic-standards-011186/) [May 14, 2026Carbon Fiber Production from End-of-Life Automotive Polymers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/carbon-fiber-production-from-end-of-life-automotive-polymers-011254/) [April 30, 2026Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) [April 23, 2026Conductive Polymers Revolutionize Fuel Cell Plates](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conductive-polymers-revolutionize-fuel-cell-plates-011057/) [May 6, 2026Reinforcement Learning for Polymer Design and Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/reinforcement-learning-for-polymer-design-and-manufacturing-011146/) [May 8, 2026Redefining “Premium” Appearance in Sustainable Plastics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/redefining-premium-appearance-in-sustainable-plastics-011191/) [May 1, 2026High-Viscosity Photopolymers Transform Additive Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/high-viscosity-photopolymers-transform-additive-manufacturing-011153/) ### One comment Join the discussion and tell us your opinion. 1. Eckhard Reesesays: [April 13, 2026 at 12:25 pm](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/recycled-carbon-fiber-from-automotive-waste-010930/#comment-7891) How much is it? 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