Exploring the Feasibility of Recycled Carbon Fiber for Damage Sensing in Composite Materials

Small subcritical damage in composite materials can serve as warning signs for potential catastrophic failures, making their detection crucial. However, identifying these signs poses significant challenges due to the complex nature of composite structures. Meanwhile, recycled carbon fiber, which possesses inherent electrical conductivity, can be exploited as both a structural and sensing material in composite structures. By integrating recycled carbon fiber into composite materials, it becomes possible to monitor structural health and detect subtle damage, such as delamination, fiber breakage, or matrix cracking in real-time. This paper explores the potential of recycled carbon fiber as a dual-purpose material as both structural and damage sensing material, highlighting the opportunities it presents for enhancing safety and performance in various industries.