# Site: carbonfiberrecycling.com # URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com # Generated: 2026-08-09 03:00:37 # Version: 1.2 # File Type: llms-full.txt # Total Pages: 31 --- ## Recycling: Protecting Intellectual Property URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/protecting-intellectual-property/ # Recycling: Protecting Intellectual Property Carbon Fiber Recycling's process is designed around protecting our clients. Material recycled with CFR goes through many steps to reduce the size and ensure that your intellectual property is secure. In our process, we can accommodate materials that are 3 feet by 4 feet in any two directions and 7 feet in the third direction. As the material travels through our system, it will eventually be reduced to under one inch in size. Once it reaches its desired length, it is sent through our recycling pyrolysis system, removing all the resin and any other material on the fiber. After this process is completed, all that is left is a dry fluffy unsized carbon fiber ready to be used again in another application. --- ## Recycling: Carbon Fiber Parts URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/carbon-fiber-parts/ # Recycling: Carbon Fiber Parts The automotive industry is under massive pressure to increase the gas mileage for all vehicles. One of the solutions to this problem is being solved by using carbon fiber in lightweight cars to improve gas mileage. In this process, manufacturers will have carbon fiber waste from their production process. CFR can recycle carbon fiber waste material, and that waste can then be used again to produce more great products. The use of carbon fiber and carbon fiber recycling will solve both the gas milage issue and the landfill issue at the same time. --- ## Recycling: Carbon Fiber Production Defects URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/production-defects/ # Recycling: Carbon Fiber Production Defects Making carbon fiber is complicated, and many things can go wrong in the production process. If for some reason there's a defect or something doesn't meet the standards asked for by the client, the material is scrapped and ends up in landfill. Manufacturers try their best to limit defects, but they still happen. CFR helps you avoid landfill because most prepregs and other production waste can be recycled and reused. Many companies have a sustainability pledge to reduce waste and avoid landfills the best they can. CFR allows you to be 100 percent carbon fiber waste-free and achieve that goal. --- ## Recycling: Carbon Fiber Fabric Waste and Bobbins URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/fiber-fabric-waste-and-bobbins/ # Recycling: Carbon Fiber Fabric Waste and Bobbins Our process is designed to accommodate all forms of waste and make your life easier. In the weaving process, you will have waste that has tape and all other contaminants on it. At CFR, we want to make your life easier. We can process all types of contaminants  EXCEPT GLASS FIBER . This will save you time and labor by not going back through your waste stream and preparing it to be recycled. All you need to do is put it in a box and ship it to us. We call this  RECYCLING MADE EASY . --- ## Recycling: Type 3, 4, and 5 Pressure Vessels and Production Waste URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/pressure-vessels/ # Recycling: Type 3, 4, and 5 Pressure Vessels and Production Waste Once pressure vessels have reached the end of their useful life they are typically buried or thrown into the landfill. These tanks can be extremely large, some over 1,000 pounds. They have a thick layer of carbon fiber and are lined with either plastic or aluminum. To recycle them, we first remove the liners, and then use large shredders and grinders to prepare the fiber for the reactor. All the epoxy on the carbon fiber is turned into volatile gas and distilled, leaving just the clean carbon fiber that can be used in multiple applications. Our clean 6mm random length rCF can be use to produce pellets used in the manufacturing of composites, concrete, matting, and to lighten and strengthen products. Companies can purchase large quantities of rCF, which has a much lower price point than virgin carbon fiber without comprising on the strength and lightening qualities of the fiber. Carbon Fiber Recycling's patented technology produces the cleanest and lowest cost recycled carbon fiber in the industry. --- ## Recycling: Aerospace Prepreg Materials URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/recycling-aerospace-prepreg-materials/ # Recycling: Aerospace Prepreg Materials Prepreg materials have a limited shelf life before they are unusable. CFR can process and recycle expired cured and uncured prepreg materials. In our process, we recycle every aspect of your prepreg material. It all starts with the packaging that will be separated from the carbon fiber and recycled back into the appropriate markets. A few examples of this process are the cardboard box, and the core will be separated along with the paper and plastic. All these materials will be recycled, and nothing will go to waste. The cured carbon roll fiber will be reduced down to less than one inch in size and sent through our system. This guarantees that your intellectual property is destroyed and your material is ready to be recycled. After our recycling process is over, your prepreg material will become an unsized less than one-inch dry fiber prepared to be used to make another great product. --- ## Why Do Companies Choose CFR's rCF? URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/why-companies-choose-cfr-rcf/ # Why Do Companies Choose CFR's rCF? By Doug Griffin People choose our recycled carbon fiber because it is clean, it is high quality, and it is in an easy format for them to use. Our clients use it in different applications depending on what they are building or manufacturing.  We have received high accolades for our rCF applications in concrete for example. A relatively small amount of rCF can allow concrete to become conductive, allowing runways to heat efficiently and melt snow. In this use case, our fiber meets or exceeds the properties of virgin carbon fiber. This has been verified by third party independent studies. Also rCF in concrete does not corrode, and has better properties than glass fiber. We have had good results in composites as well, and now the price point is lower, as we have scaled our facilities and we are producing high quality low cost rCF at scale. So why do people use our recycled carbon fiber? It is because it works. It is high quality, and it is now a much cleaner material to work with. ## Describe the Recycled Carbon Fiber Product that the CFR Reactor Produces The recycled carbon fiber product that we produce is a six millimeter random length chopped fiber with a standard deviation of about 2.5mm or less. This is the perfect product to mix with concrete, to pelletize and use when manufacturing composite products.  We can also adjust the length of the fiber by altering the equipment settings before the fiber enters the reactor. It takes about half an hour to do that internally, and then we can produce that length on a mass quantity basis, whatever length that we decide to make. We can also adjust the kinds of carbon fiber we feed into the reactor. This means our clients can have a customized product suited to their use case. We also produce a precision cut chopped fiber, but the majority of what we produce is random length material in our continuous flow reactor. --- ## Reinventing Structural Durability with Recycled Carbon Fiber URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/reinventing-structural-durability-with-recycled-carbon-fiber/ # Reinventing Structural Durability with Recycled Carbon Fiber Imagine a world where concrete, an essential building material, becomes dramatically stronger, lighter, and more resistant to environmental wear and tear. What if I told you we’re closer to achieving that than you may think? Welcome to the exciting frontier of recycled carbon fiber-reinforced concrete, a groundbreaking innovation that holds immense potential for transforming the construction industry, as revealed by recent research from the University of Texas. ## Testing Recycled Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete According to the UT white paper , carbon fiber-reinforced concrete stands as an attractive alternative for civil infrastructure due to its high strength, light weight, and exceptional resistance to corrosion. Even more remarkable is the potential of ultra-high-performance concrete, which boasts incredible mechanical properties by utilizing randomly oriented steel fibers, improving the overall strength and durability of the material. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated the successful use of recycled carbon fiber in the production of ultra-high-performance concrete, offering a cost-effective and sustainable solution without sacrificing strength and durability. This breakthrough proves crucial in surmounting the market entry barrier posed by the high cost of virgin carbon fiber. ## Virgin vs Recycled Carbon Fiber From UT investigation: Different fiber types mixed into concrete. (A) steel fibers; (B) Hexcel carbon platelets; (C) Zoltek carbon fiber; (D) recycled carbon fiber. However, incorporating recycled carbon fiber into concrete isn’t just a matter of mixing the two. The study carried out an in-depth exploration of process structure-properties relationships to ensure the most effective use of recycled carbon fiber. Factors that could affect the concrete’s mechanical properties, such as pore formation and poor fiber distribution, were meticulously evaluated. In the mix design experiment, recycled carbon fiber and ultra-high-performance concrete were assessed for mechanical properties. The results were then compared with an aerospace-grade and low-cost commercial carbon fiber utilizing the same mix design. Astonishingly, the recycled carbon fiber held its own, promising a revolution in construction sustainability without any compromise on the overall performance. Adding a layer of depth to this study, the microstructure of the concrete samples was non-destructively evaluated using high-resolution micro X-ray computed tomography. This process offers 3D quantitative spatial pore size distribution information and detailed insight into fiber clumping, providing an understanding of the intrinsic features of the concrete on a micro level. As a result, the recycled carbon fiber reinforced concrete exhibited impressive compression, tension, and flexural properties, making it a highly attractive option for robust and resilient infrastructure development. ## Greener Building   So, why should you care about this breakthrough? Because it’s poised to reshape the future of construction, making it more sustainable and affordable without sacrificing strength and performance. It will reduce the carbon footprint of building projects, increase their lifespan, and contribute significantly to a greener and more durable built environment. Recycled carbon fiber could well be the future of construction, ushering in an era of high-performance concrete that stands the test of time. As manufacturers and developers, it’s an exciting development that we can’t afford to ignore. The opportunity to strengthen our products and contribute positively to the world is truly groundbreaking. We’re standing on the brink of a significant shift in construction and materials science, powered by recycled carbon fiber. Let’s embrace this revolution together and build a stronger, more sustainable future for all. Read the UT White Paper: Patchen A, Young S, Penumadu D (2022) An Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Recycled Carbon Fiber Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete , MDPI website, accessed 22 July 2023. --- ## CFR Client Testimonial: Carbon Fiber Remanufacturing URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/client-testimonial/ # CFR Client Testimonial: Carbon Fiber Remanufacturing "Carbon Fiber Remanufacturing LLC (CFR-KS) since 2011 has been in the business of engineering and producing high performance and competitively priced carbon fiber reinforced nonwoven composite materials which have been carded, cross lapped, and needled. CFR-KS composite formulations utilize either reclaimed Carbon Fiber (rCF) or virgin Carbon Fiber (vCF). Over the past six years, we have worked directly with Carbon Fiber Recycling (CFR-TN) by providing them with CF reclamation testing trials with a wide range of CF reinforced composite waste streams including composite materials and products from aerospace to pressure vessels, both cured parts and uncured and off-spec prepress. The progress CFR-TN has made over these years of development in the resulting quality of the rCF and in cost efficiencies of their technology and system processes has been nothing less than spectacular. CFR-KS has carefully followed the developments of 15 or so composite recycling operations in Europe, Asia, and North America. CFR-TN is a clear standout in this critically important emerging industry to meet the demands for future recycling of autos, aircraft, spacecraft, marine vessels, wind power generation, building materials, recreation/sports products, and electronics which increasingly and speedily are converting to carbon fiber reinforced composites for its great strength and light-weighting and 100% recyclable on a repeating life cycle basis. Manufacturing industries of every kind are rushing to utilise CF reinforced composite materials without a clear plan to process their products and structures at the end of their life cycle. CFR-TN is clearly the leading technology to provide each of those industries with a proven solution to avoid already bulging landfills around the world." Tony Guhr - Director, Carbon Fiber Remanufacturing LLC --- ## What's So Special About CFR’s Recycling Facility in Tazewell, TN? URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/cfrs-recycling-facility-in-tazewell/ # What's So Special About CFR’s Recycling Facility in Tazewell, TN? By Doug Griffin We started working on this equipment in 2012, and have finally achieved what we set out to do, which is to develop the capability to recycle all carbon fiber materials on a continuous flow basis, producing high quality rCF at a price point that could revolutionize the carbon fiber recycling industry. We exceeded our goals in our longevity testing, and after successful sea trials, we start full commercial production in January, 2024.  ## High Quality rCF There are two main issues that have plagued the rCF industry. The first issue is removing 100% of the epoxies and resin from the recycled fiber, and the second issue is removing the layer of coke that coats the carbon fiber during the pyrolytic process. CFR’s technology has perfected its reactor and fiber polishing technology to deliver the cleanest rCF in the industry.  Quality of the actual fiber is determined in large part by the quality of carbon fiber fed into the reactor.  We limit our inputs to composites with 50% CF content and containing no glass fiber.  For large orders, companies requiring a particular fiber length can request fiber to spec, and we may be able to accommodate.  We test our fiber onsite and have it verified by third parties. ## Batch vs Continuous Flow Production Up until now, the majority of carbon fiber recycling systems have been batch systems. It is quite easy to create a batch system and that is how we started in the early days.  The problem with a batch system is that you can never reach economies of scale because you are limited by the size of the reactor and you are always heating up the reactor, processing, cooling and resetting the system. Batch systems use so much energy, and take so much time to produce a small amount, so your product is just too expensive, and not environmentally friendly. A continuous flow system is like it sounds. We continuously run the reactor 24/7 and we can produce much larger volumes, at a much lower price point. Once we fire up the reactor, and optimize the system for the output, it continues producing rCF in perpetuity, or until we decide to either stop feeding it or decide to turn it off for maintenance.  This type of reactor is a much more complex system to design, but the benefits are economy of scale. We also have a really low environmental footprint because we use the energy that is generated during the processing to power the reactor.  ## Low Price Point We can now process an enormous amount of material in more efficient ways than a batch system could ever hope to do, and we can process any type of carbon fiber. That lowers our price, keeps the quality high, and at the same consistent rates.  The lower price point has made rCF companies viable and also created a new market for recycled carbon fiber . Carbon Fiber is lighter and stronger than steel or glass fiber, and is now much less expensive to recycle.  rCF can now be used extensively in concrete to add strength, as well as to heat, as rCF is also has conductive properties. Our fiber is also used extensively in any industry that needs light and strong products such as dashboards for cars, computer cases, and airline tray tables. It has taken over ten years, and a lot of investment, effort, and prototyping to have these recycling capacities. We are excited to bring this revolutionary technology solution to the world, and to open new markets for rCF in unprecedented quality and quality. See our FAQ page for more about CFR's recycling process. --- ## A Commitment to Reducing Landfill URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/reducing-landfill-waste/ # A Commitment to Reducing Landfill The founder of Carbon Fiber Recycling , Doug Griffin started out in the recycling business in Bethel, CT. Doug has always had a strong commitment to recycling and to keep waste out of landfills.  Anything that he came across on worksites and demolitions, he thought about ways to reuse and potentially breakdown into usable materials.  Doug set up a lab at his recycling plant, experiments and built prototypes and small reactors to recycling all the waste that gets thrown into landfills, from asphalt roofing to plastics, even old toilets where crushed to be used in road building materials. It was in his lab, where Doug developed a process to recycle carbon fiber , reducing the glues into usable by products, and develop a continuous flow processing system to produce recycled carbon fiber at low cost and in large quantities.  Doug made several prototypes and worked with chemists and engineers to tweak and test his ideas.  By 2018, Doug and his partner Tim decided they had enough experience to build a large recycling plant, and the numbers to make it work. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure ” -Colin Powell Tim Spahn talking to students about how Carbon Fiber Recycling recycles carbon fiber in Bethel, CT ## A Commitment to the Next Generation CFR is commited to educating the next generation about the innovative technology used at Carbon Fiber Recycling.  Since 2018, CFR has been working with local teens at their CT facility in Bethel CT.  Teens have worked on projects in recycling and reusing plastics, as well as carbon fiber.  They have also participated in CFR as a marketing team.  Both Doug Griffin and Tim Spahn have mentored teens on their projects. “Teens today are more interested than any other generation in cleaning up the planet." -Tim Spahn  Our goal is to inspire the next generation to take on big projects that will minimize the amount of materials ending up in landfills.  Carbon Fiber has great properties that improve the quality of products.  Unfortunately right now, it is an industry that produces a lot of waste.  The technology and innovations at CFR can fundamentally turn that situation around to benefit carbon fiber consumers, and the planet. --- ## We Accept Bobbins and Recycle 100% URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/we-accept-bobbins/ # We Accept Bobbins and Recycle 100% When carbon fiber cloth is produced, manufacturers use large bobbins of virgin carbon fiber.  The weaving machines are threaded all at once, with many carbon fiber bobbins.  When one bobbin is finished and needs changing, typically all of the other bobbins are replaced.  That means many unfinished bobbins are headed for landfill. Carbon Fiber Recycling accepts these used bobbins and can recycle them 100%. ### We Can Take All of Your Bobbins! At CFR we will make sure the unused carbon fiber on your expired bobbins is recycled and reenters the market as a raw material for composites and remanufacturing.  We even recycle the tubes. “Carbon Fiber is expensive to manufacture.  It requires a lot of energy.  None of that carbon fiber should be going to landfills, as we can recycle 100% of it.” - Doug Griffin, Founder Our goal is to keep carbon fiber out of the landfill, and to create more avenues for carbon fiber materials to be incorporated into manufacturing processes, at a much cheaper price and in a form that is most useful to our clients.  We want to make it easier, and more cost effective to use carbon fiber to improve the specs of our customers' products. Because our customers come first. It’s that simple. --- ## How Companies Are Using Our Recycled Carbon Fiber URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/how-companies-are-using-our-recycled-carbon-fiber/ # How Companies Are Using Our Recycled Carbon Fiber Recently Silca, a bike part manufacturer reached out to sample CFR's recycled carbon fiber. CFR's clean random chopped fiber averages 6mm in length and is used to fortify products. Silca was very impressed with their result and are now using CFR's fiber in their manufacturing process. Manufacturers are happy as they can improve the specs of their products at a much lower price point. They are also helping to keep carbon fiber out of landfill. “Carbon fiber has great stiffness to weight properties." -SILCA CEO The banner on Silca's website ## Why CFR's Carbon Fiber? CFR creates its recycled carbon fiber by grinding up race cars, bike frames, aerospace carbon fiber materials, and filtering out all the impurities in the state-of-the-art reactor located in CFR's new recycling facility in Tazewell, TN.  CFR's carbon fiber is at least 95% pure and perfect for many manufacturing applications. "Then we discovered CFR, a company that has been working to solve the carbon recycling solution for nearly 10 years and whose process has an exceptionally low footprint—orders of magnitude smaller than that required to produce new fiber." ~ SILCA founder Until now, recycled carbon fiber has been processed using a batch process which made it time consuming and expensive.  CFR is excited to offer a new choice to manufacturers that adds strength to their products at a competitive price point, and also keeping carbon fiber materials out of the landfills. --- ## Carbon Fiber Recycling, LLC Launches Sustainable Milled Recycled Carbon Fiber URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/carbon-fiber-recycling-llc-launches-sustainable-milled-recycled-carbon-fiber/ Carbon Fiber Recycling, LLC Launches Sustainable Milled Recycled Carbon Fiber - https://www.einpresswire.com/article/866289867/carbon-fiber-recycling-llc-launches-sustainable-milled-recycled-carbon-fiber --- ## The potential of rCF in fiber-reinforced concrete URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/the-potential-of-rcf-in-fiber-reinforced-concrete/ A look at how emerging technologies for FRP concrete provide alternatives to traditionally used steel and glass fibers that are more cost-effective and address the sustainability challenge. The potential of rCF in fiber-reinforced concrete | CompositesWorld - https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/the-potential-of-rcf-in-fiber-reinforced-concrete --- ## Portfolio expansion adds to rCF accessibility, applications URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/portfolio-expansion-adds-to-rcf-accessibility-applications/ CAMX 2025: Tennessee-based Carbon Fiber Recycling LLC grows its patented rCF offerings, extracting from post-industrial and EOL dry fiber, prepreg and cured composites. Portfolio expansion adds to rCF accessibility, applications | CompositesWorld - https://www.compositesworld.com/products/portfolio-expansion-adds-to-rcf-accessibility-applications --- ## March 2026, Innovation Insights URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/march-2026-innovation-insights/ Our monthly webinar series “Innovation Insights” continued Monday, March 2, at 12:00 pm ET. IACMI CCO Jason Gibson moderated discussions with IACMI members featuring their latest news about products, services, technology, and innovations. March 2026, Innovation Insights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLBZouk-FQ4 --- ## CFR: Home URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/ Recycle 100% of your carbon fiber materials ### A greener technology solution turning end of life carbon fiber materials into clean, affordable, recycled carbon fiber. Recycle 100% of your carbon fiber materials ### A greener technology solution turning end of life carbon fiber materials into clean, affordable, recycled carbon fiber. ## Reduced landfill CFR recycles most carbon fiber materials including dry fiber, prepreg, and cured composites. There is no fee to recycle. You improve your carbon footprint, and enhance your brand. ## Reuseable fiber CFR produces clean recycled carbon fiber at a fraction of the cost of virgin fiber. It can be used in many applications, creating the closed loop customers increasingly demand. ## Clean processing CFR’s patented low emissions technology solution uses over 90% less energy than virgin carbon fiber and produces the cleanest recycled carbon fiber in the industry. ## Reduced landfill CFR recycles most carbon fiber materials including dry fiber, prepreg, and cured composites. There is no fee to recycle. You improve your carbon footprint, and enhance your brand. ## Reuseable fiber CFR produces clean recycled carbon fiber at a fraction of the cost of virgin fiber. It can be used in many applications, creating the closed loop customers increasingly demand. ## Clean processing CFR’s patented low emissions technology solution uses over 90% less energy than virgin carbon fiber and produces the cleanest recycled carbon fiber in the industry. ## Turn excess carbon fiber materials into pristine reusable fiber Our mission is to recycle 100% of your excess and end of life carbon fiber. CFR transforms materials into clean short chopped fiber to be reused in the manufacturing process.  Hear how we do it. Watch here ## CFR can repurpose 100% of your carbon fiber materials #### Reducing landfill When we accept your carbon fiber, none of it will go into landfills. We recycle 100% so you can proudly say that you do too. #### We take all of your materials We recycle dry fiber, pre-preg, and cured composites, as long as it contains at least 50% carbon fiber and no glass fiber.  #### We resell carbon fiber CFR sells clean recycled carbon fiber to manufacturers producing pellets, matting and carbon fiber composites. Buy recycled fiber ## Leading manufacturers and industries partner with CFR #### CFR recycles carbon fiber in large quantities and has powerful shredders and grinders to handle the toughest materials at scale including: ### Client testimonials "As a wet laid nonwoven manufacturer, the quality of the fibers dictates the quality of our product. Especially when it comes to a recycled carbon fiber. It is vital to have a properly recycled fiber that does not carry matrix or charr residues. Carbon Fiber Recycling succeeded in providing us with high quality fibers that we were able to turn into high quality nonwoven fabrics. In addition, the Carbon Fiber Recycling team has been an amazing group to work with. They are very professional, always welcoming and carry the positive attitude towards innovation and new projects." Hicham Ghossein - President, Endeavor Composites, Inc. ### client testimonials "CFR has been an incredibly innovative and fast moving partner in the development of our award winning bicycle tire sealant. Tim and his team are wonderful communicators who were able to help us move from development to production in record time!" Josh Poertner - President, SILCA ### client testimonials "Manufacturing industries of every kind are rushing to utilise CF reinforced composite materials without a clear plan to process their products and structures at the end of their life cycle. CFR-TN is clearly the leading technology to provide each of those industries with a proven solution to avoid already bulging landfills around the world." (READ FULL TESTIMONIAL) Tony Guhr - Director, Carbon Fiber Remanufacturing --- ## News URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/news/ # CFR News # CFR News --- ## Buy Fiber URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/buy-fiber/ # Buy Recycled Carbon Fiber # Buy Recycled Carbon Fiber ### CFR's patented technology delivers low cost, pristine recycled carbon fiber for all kinds of manufacturing CFR produces clean (independently verified 95% or better) 6mm random length standard modulus with properties comparable with virgin carbon fiber. Order a free sample ### High volume production and state of the art technology Our environmentally friendly technology solution can produce over 3.4 million pounds (1,700 tons) of recycled carbon fiber annually from our Tennessee facility. More about our process ### A low-impact, closed loop recycling solution Companies who provide CFR with their carbon fiber materials and/or buy our recycled carbon enhance their brand value, reduce their carbon footprint and can offer their customers a closed loop recycling solution. Send an inquiry --- ## About CFR URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/about/ # About CFR # About CFR ### CFR started with a dumpster rental business and a quest to find recycling avenues for everything placed in them Programs were set up to recycle easier things like scrap metals and wood wastes. Then focus moved to more difficult items like roofing and plastics. Experiments with pyrolytic processes began in 2012 and included converting plastics to oil, and developing the only pyrolytic process to recycle roofing shingles. ### We found carbon fiber could be economically recycled with continuous flow technology Two pilot reactor systems were built at the dumpster business in Bethel Connecticut, with work on science and mechanical development in spare time. This allowed lab-based testing to prove out the systems, and became the foundation for a commercial scale operation. Carbon Fiber Recycling's first commercial plant was built in Tazewell Tennessee. After 18 months of construction and commissioning, and some challenging scaling issues, the commercial system came to life almost 10 years after our first experiments. Recycling 100% of carbon fiber materials ## 2009 The Idea First thoughts on pyrolytic processing technologies to create oil as world market prices become unstable. ## 2012 Experiments Two pilot reactors built in Connecticut for initial pyrolytic experiments, producing positive results. ## 2018 Founded Company Carbon Fiber Recycling is created in Tennessee. Engineering work for best mechanical process begins. ## 2021 First Product First carbon fiber produced from the new facility in limited quantities. Commercial processing begins. ### CFR's patented technology recycles carbon fiber with near-zero emissions What is most exciting is that we have solved  both  the environmental harm that carbon fiber landfill creates  and  the poor economics that recycled fiber has historically been plagued with. We offer manufacturers of carbon fiber products the first of its kind, environmentally friendly alternative for excess and end of life materials.  How we do it --- ## FAQ URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/faq/ # FAQ # FAQ We are often asked why we started Carbon Fiber Recycling (CFR), what is different about our process, and what our partners can expect from working with us. CFR’s Founder, Doug Griffin, explains the important role the company plays in reshaping the carbon fiber industry. #### Why did you start Carbon Fiber Recycling? Humans are amazing creatures, capable of incredible achievements and technological innovations that continuously improve our standard of living, safety, and longevity.  The downside of those great accomplishments is the growing burden on the planet’s resources and the ancillary problems of dealing with ever increasing waste streams that are more damaging, last longer and will ultimately derail progress and endanger the planet if new ways of managing them are not found. The proliferation of high quality carbon fiber composites is a perfect example. Carbon fiber has incredible properties, and its use in myriad products grows rapidly every year. It’s been used to create lightweight and stronger items such as aircraft, spacecraft, wind turbine blades, motor vehicles, and a wide array of sporting and consumer goods. Light weight items use less fuel to start or stop, lift and move, and require less of a foundation to build, hold up, or span. The downside, besides its high cost, is when carbon fiber products come to the end of their useful life, or when manufacturing processes create waste carbon fiber scrap, there is no good environmentally friendly manner to deal with them. Today these products are dumped in landfills. Because they don’t decompose like other materials, their rapid accumulation will inevitably cause larger problems for the world as time goes on. This requires the creation of methods that either return these items back to their constituent components, or prepare them for reuse in a recycling loop in an environmentally and economically friendly manner. I’ve been involved in the management of waste products my entire professional life and I’ve always been focused on developing new methods for recycling the volume we park away in landfills that simultaneously bring an economic benefit. I saw a huge opportunity in carbon fiber and founded CFR to tackle it. #### What is CFR's process? Recycling carbon fiber at commercial scale and on a continuous basis is very difficult and has, until now, only been an aspirational concept. A number of companies have achieved good outcomes with small batch processes but those cannot scale well economically.  Until now, companies with scalable flow processes have not been able to achieve high enough quality recycled fiber to become sustainable commercial enterprises. Carbon Fiber Recycling has developed a unique patented economic, and environmentally friendly, continuous flow process that allows the operator of that process to do things that have not been done successfully at commercial scale before. Our process is flexible. We can take a variety of carbon fiber materials , including dry fiber, pre-pregs, and cured composites. Our factory in Tennessee was built for continuous (24/7) operations, and was designed to produce large quantities of unsized 6 mm random length chopped carbon fibers that have been validated by leading third party laboratories and end users as being consistently over 95% pure, ideal for a large number of commercial applications. In addition, the cost of this recycled fiber is also a fraction of the cost of new fiber. #### So you have found a solution for the environmental impact of carbon fiber? What is most exciting is that we have solved  both  the environmental harm that carbon fiber landfill creates  and  the poor economics that recycled fiber has historically been plagued with. We offer manufacturers of carbon fiber products the first of its kind, environmentally friendly alternative for their waste and end of life products.  We also provide an inexpensive, high quality recycled fiber for many commercial applications. It’s great for the environment and great for the economy.  CFR provides a true high volume alternative to the existing environmentally damaging shipments to landfills but it also offers an attractive economic proposition which allows high tech recycled carbon fiber to be utilized in more products because it is cheaper. The combined knock-on effect our process creates is exciting.  A select group of qualified companies with large carbon fiber material streams will be eligible to license our technology in the future. #### How do you do it exactly? There are a number of the aspects of our process that are highly proprietary. In broad terms, Carbon Fiber Recycling uses a process called pyrolysis which is the act of heating something in the absence of oxygen. Heating carbon fiber materials in a controlled environment, in the absence of oxygen is the basis for our magic. With a pyrolytic process, materials cannot burn, but instead they volatilize, producing a gas, just like when something evaporates. Because carbon fiber is produced at incredible temperatures, the fiber is unaffected by the temperatures necessary to volatilize the epoxies and the plastic components that the carbon fibers are locked in. The composite materials turn into a gas, leaving the carbon fiber as a liberated solid. The fiber is extracted from the process virtually intact and can be used again for the manufacturing of new products cheaper than they can be manufactured for with virgin carbon fiber. That’s in part because the energy used to recycle is a fraction of what it takes to create new carbon fiber. #### Isn’t the recycling process itself damaging to the environment in terms of energy requirements and the creation of hazardous, volatile by-products? This is something we care deeply about, and is another exciting aspect of our process. The answer is no. After all, why would you recycle in the first place if the environmental costs of recycling in aggregate (energy requirements, emission profile, hazardous by-products, etc.) outweighed the environmental costs of virgin fiber production, or used fiber disposal. Our entire process was designed to minimize the environmental costs of recycling. During the recycling process itself, the pyrolysis gas separated from the carbon fibers can be cleaned up by condensing it into two separate fractions: condensible and non-condensible gasses. Condensible gasses can be further broken down into solids and liquids with different temperature levels.  The non-condensible gasses are cooled to atmospheric temperatures and routed back into special burners that extract the calorific value using combustion to create heat energy for the pyrolysis process to continue. In other words, we can run our recycling equipment using those gasses. So far we have found that we can utilize all of the non-condensible gasses from all the carbon fiber materials we have seen in the market to create the heat needed to run our recycling equipment. The condensible gasses can be turned into liquids and solids. Liquids are made up of oil that is separated and stored. That oil can also be routed to special burners and utilized for heat to pyrolyze additional carbon fiber materials, reducing the need for non-renewable energy sources.  The amount of oil created can change based on the amount and type of materials being processed, but the process affords the opportunity to have excess oil from the pyrolysis process and this oil can be utilized for different tertiary energy uses after the energy required to run the pyrolysis process has been satisfied. The oil created from the process is similar to a high value crude mix, and must be separated from the condensing medium, stored, and if desired, can be further processed into better known hydrocarbon products like diesel fuel or jet fuel. The pyrolysis oil typically consists of about 80 percent the same molecular make-up of diesel fuel oil, with the remaining 20 percent made up of a mix of lighter and heavier fractions in a homogenous oil solution.  Finally, the solid fraction that is generated from the original pyrolysis gas output is captured and stored. Once accumulated, this fraction is re-routed back into the pyrolytic processing unit to be re-cracked, just like at a refinery, in order to create shorter molecular chain hydrocarbons. By doing this CFR transforms the solid fraction into non-condensible gas, able to be consumed for energy in the process, and condensable liquid fuel, also able to be consumed for energy, or can be further refined into things like diesel fuel and other energy products if desired, thus closing the energy loop. All of this makes our process very efficient. CFR has developed these capabilities to extract carbon fiber from composites, allowing that fiber to be re-introduced into new manufacturing processes from any form of carbon fiber materials cheaply, while simultaneously converting all of the composite material into useable energy products. We continue to develop these technologies to further refine the process and make it even more efficient on a commercial scale. We also recycle other materials attached to the receipt of carbon fiber materials. Cardboard shipping boxes, pallets, metal components, plastic parts and plastic sheeting are all items that CFR removes from the waste stream and recycles back into the beneficial use product market. It goes along the ideology of finding a responsible method by which to return the amazing technological innovative items that carbon fiber has been created into, back to beneficial use products in an environmentally friendly way.  Carbon Fiber Recycling is committed to the furtherance of this ideology and ways in which to improve its processes as well as the number of items it can recycle from the materials it receives. The days of placing things in landfills must come to an end, one technological and innovative advancement at a time.  #### What products can you reuse and how do companies work with you? We make it as easy as we can for our client partners. We can recycle virtually all products that have a high carbon fiber content (greater than 50% by weight). The one exception is that we  will not accept products containing any glass fiber , except for extremely limited exceptions, where the fiber can be mechanically removed from the stream and the stream containing the glass fiber consists of a very high volume of material. In such cases, we may be able to create a custom pre-pyrolytic process where we can effectively handle the glass fiber.  We take in dry fiber, pre-preg and composites in all forms. We can handle cured and uncured products; expired pre-preg materials; carbon fiber thermoset and carbon fiber thermoplastics; and depleted carbon fiber bobbins of all thicknesses (must be packaged separately from resin filled products). Products also do not have to be sorted by resin content. There is no cost to our partners for recycling their products aside from the cost of shipping the materials to us.  They are also not required to purchase any of the recycled fiber. All they have to do is send us a sample of the types of products they want us to recycle which we will analyze in our lab. If we can recycle their products, we will enter into a recycling agreement with them, which includes giving us an idea as to volumes and frequency so we can plan accordingly and they can start shipping. Companies interested in purchasing our fiber can purchase it directly from our facility. #### Why is glass fiber an issue for you? Glass fiber is often used in conjunction with carbon fiber composites for many reasons, some of which include abrasion resistance coatings, cheaper stiffening effects, and it's simply cheaper to use than carbon fiber. We see a lot of mixed use materials that have both carbon fiber and glass fiber in the same item. Unfortunately, it's difficult to separate glass fiber from carbon fiber and do it perfectly all the time on a high volume basis. The last thing we want to do is contaminate good quality carbon fiber with glass fiber. We don’t sell glass fiber and don’t want to contaminate the carbon fiber materials we do sell with glass fiber. So, we simply don’t run it through our process so we cannot have any issues with the quality of our carbon fiber output. There are emerging technologies that may solve this issue on a large commercial scale. When that time comes and the technology is reliably consistent on a commercial scale, it’s highly likely we will implement such a capability, thus increasing our waste stream feedstock and diverting more material from landfill. --- ## Our Team URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/our-team/ # Meet Our Team # Meet Our Team Dedication to the mission is a fundamental attribute of our team. We keep new ideas flowing, and push limits every day to keep CFR on the cutting edge of innovation and progress. We strive to be the best in the industry at solving the challenges of carbon fiber recycling for today and tomorrow . ### Doug Griffin #### Founder Expertise: Physics, pyrolytic processing, mechanical engineering, thinking outside the box, adaptability. Doug Griffin is the Founder of CFR and a Managing Member of the firm. Since starting CFR in 2018, Doug has developed and fine tuned a proven, unique, patented flow process that allows for the continuous, high throughput recycling of all types of carbon fiber materials. He has designed and overseen the building of a state of the art recycling facility in Tazewell, TN expected to begin full scale commercial production in January, 2024. Carbon Fiber Recycling is the culmination of my passion to protect the environment and to solve a massive waste and landfill problem resulting from the rapidly growing adoption of carbon fiber as a light and strong construction material. Companies have been struggling to recycle the material at scale, and producing a high quality, low-cost recycled fiber for various manufacturing applications has been the focus of my attention over the last 11 years. We can now provide the market a full closed-loop technology solution for companies to recycle 100% of their carbon fiber materials which makes us unique in this industry. Prior to founding CFR, Doug operated a number of businesses in the waste management industry since 1997. He is a lifelong student of physics, pyrolytic processing and mechanical engineering. Doug has a passion for flying and holds commercial and flight instructor ratings. He volunteered as a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and served as a mission pilot in the Civil Air Patrol performing fixed wing search and rescue operations. He enjoys teaching people to fly in his spare time. #### Chris Renner Controller Expertise: Accounting and finance, human resources, operations and production. I have always enjoyed helping people grow both personally and professionally. As a teenager I started working in my family’s printing business and migrated through the many aspects of small business; Production and Operations, Finance and Accounting, Sales and Customer Service, and Human Resources. I graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University, met my wife while attending NAU, and settled into a great life in the metro Phoenix area. Living in Arizona, we became very aware of the effects of proper stewardship of our available resources. I plan to use all I have learned over my career to help Carbon Fiber Recycling meet its goal of becoming a “Best in Class” facility with the most experienced and trained staff in our industry. I believe that great companies grow when great employees understand the nature of business and can react to changes in the marketplace and the economy. #### Jeff Hall Director of Client Relations Expertise: Partnership development and client relations. Jeff oversees our most important asset, the relationships with our customer and supplier partners.  Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have worked with talented people who have accomplished incredible things. The common traits they all share are integrity, proactive communication and a passion for providing solutions that enhance the value of their customers. Recycled Carbon Fiber (rCF) is a new industry and the high throughput technology solution that Carbon Fiber Recycling provides is unique. As we move forward to build this industry together, our partnerships are built on those foundational principles. Jeff comes to CFR with a diversified career ranging from Product Design to Business Development. He served OEMs with a primary focus on sustainability, alternative fuels and clean energy. Jeff is a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky. In his off time, he loves entertaining family and friends. #### Mike DeAngelis Computer Systems New Fairfield, CT I created the electronic systems for the reactor and trained all the staff. I create CAD drawings of the equipment, and operate the reactor. I really like the work environment here and working with cutting edge technology. #### Robert McKeever Operating Engineer Tazewell, TN I operate the reactor, fabricate whatever is needed and fill in to get the job done. I like the respect I feel and the ability to voice my ideas and opinions, to be heard, and put those ideas into application. #### Kevin Horan Operating Engineer Bethel, CT I am a machinist and fabricator by trade, but what I really love is using my brain to solve problems. I really like the guys, working for Doug and learning something new every day. #### Spencer Cline Operating Engineer Tazewell, TN I operate the reactor and fabricate whatever is needed, filters and assemblies. I love what we are doing here. I like a job which is a challenge, where you have to think on your feet. #### Keisha Ailor Fiber Processing Specialist Tazewell, TN I work with carbon fiber bobbins, sorting and chopping fiber. The people here are amazing and it makes it easy to get up and come into work. #### Carly Shehan Fiber Processing Specialist Tazewell, TN I operate the Tow chopper machine. I prepare the fiber, chop it, and sort it for shipping. CFR is like a family to me. It's a nice and safe work environment. --- ## Products URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/products/ # Our Products # Our Products 6mm rCF 18mm rCF Pelletized rCF Milled rCF Non woven rCF ### 6mm rCF CFR offers two types of sustainable recycled 6mm carbon fiber products. The primary difference is the bulk density of the material which can be attributed to the amount of fines present. Some downstream applications, such as milling and certain concrete applications, are aided by increased presence of fines, whereas other applications like non-woven or CFRP prefer a reduced number of fines be present. To inquire click here ### 18mm rCF CFR manufactures sustainable recycled 18mm chopped fiber that is well suited for applications that may require longer fibers, such as additives in concrete, non-woven applications, mortar, and asphalt. To inquire click here ### Pelletized rCF Well suited for several applications such as CFRP, injection molding, ratio feeding, and 3D printing, CFR pellets improve process flowability, help minimize dust, increase shipping efficiencies and reduce costs, while delivering maximum performance in a sustainable recycled product. It’s the perfect package where carbon fiber performance needs to flow through your system. CFR Pelletized rCF is available with various sizing chemistries suitable for a wide array of polymers. To inquire click here ### Milled rCF Looking for a sustainable recycled carbon fiber milled product in volume? The ability to meter, flow, or ratio feed carbon fiber can bring advantages to your manufacturing process. CFR can provide milled recycled carbon fiber typically ranging from 100 to 300 microns. We may have the ability to mill to your specification. To inquire click here ### Non woven rCF CFR’s recycled carbon fiber creates a nice, lightweight, high performance layup, with the sustainability benefits of utilizing carbon fiber that would have been destined for landfill. To inquire click here ### 6mm rCF CFR offers two types of sustainable recycled 6mm carbon fiber products. The primary difference is the bulk density of the material which can be attributed to the amount of fines present. Some downstream applications, such as milling and certain concrete applications, are aided by increased presence of fines, whereas other applications like non-woven or CFRP prefer a reduced number of fines be present. To inquire click here ### 18mm rCF CFR manufactures sustainable recycled 18mm chopped fiber that is well suited for applications that may require longer fibers, such as additives in concrete, non-woven applications, mortar, and asphalt. To inquire click here ### Pelletized rCF Well suited for several applications such as CFRP, injection molding, ratio feeding, and 3D printing, CFR pellets improve process flowability, help minimize dust, increase shipping efficiencies and reduce costs, while delivering maximum performance in a sustainable recycled product. It’s the perfect package where carbon fiber performance needs to flow through your system. CFR Pelletized rCF is available with various sizing chemistries suitable for a wide array of polymers. To inquire click here ### Milled rCF Looking for a sustainable recycled carbon fiber milled product in volume? The ability to meter, flow, or ratio feed carbon fiber can bring advantages to your manufacturing process. CFR can provide milled recycled carbon fiber typically ranging from 100 to 300 microns. We may have the ability to mill to your specification. To inquire click here ### Non woven rCF CFR’s recycled carbon fiber creates a nice, lightweight, high performance layup, with the sustainability benefits of utilizing carbon fiber that would have been destined for landfill. To inquire click here --- ## Clients URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/clients/ # Our Clients # Our Clients Our Ideal Clients: Are committed to recycling carbon fiber feedstock and turning it into the greener products of tomorrow. They value consistent quality, reliable capacity and affordability. --- ## Recycle Fiber New URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/what-we-do/ # Recycle Your Carbon Fiber Materials # Recycle Your Carbon Fiber Materials Sample submittal form What is recyclable Lab analysis ### Industries with large carbon fiber material streams now have an economically viable alternative to landfill Carbon Fiber Recycling processes three categories of carbon fiber: dry fiber, prepreg and composites. Our facility in Tazewell, TN has powerful shredders and grinders to precision chop the toughest prepreg and composite materials. Then our reactor liberates carbon fiber from composites and turns all epoxies and glues into usable fuel.  We recycle 100 percent of your carbon fiber materials with no processing fees, and deliver reusable fiber to secondary markets. ### CFR's patented, near-zero-emissions technology recovers clean reusable fiber Our state-of-the-art processing facility produces chopped fiber which can be used in a variety of manufacturing processes such as pellet production, concrete products, and fortifying composites.  Our continuous flow process operates 24/7, allowing us to recycle large quantities and return high-quality reusable fiber to the market at a much lower price point than virgin fiber. ### Your end of life carbon fiber material could become the most sustainable alternative to virgin carbon fiber CFR's Recycled Carbon Fiber (rCF) has the potential to offset as much as 99% of the CO2 created during the production of virgin carbon fiber. Please see the information below to submit samples and discuss recycling options with the CFR team. ### What is recyclable and what is not At CFR we produce clean and pure recycled carbon fiber. Pyrolysis is a thermal process that operates in the absence of oxygen. This causes the thermal decomposition of organic materials which breaks them into three main products: solids, combustible liquids, and gases. CFR currently is capable of recycling dry-fiber, pre-preg and cured composite materials, however there are items that can be considered contaminants in our system. Material Good No Good Notes Carbon fiber X Urathane X Plastic polymers X Metals Case by case Glass X Sand / dirt X Case by case ### Lab analysis All material must be sampled prior to sending the desired recyclable material for processing. Here is the process: Download the sample submittal form . Gather samples that are representative of all materials you wish to recycle. - Sample sizes should be approximately 3" x 3", unless this would not allow for a true representation of the item you wish to recycle. - All samples should be labelled. Fill out the sample submittal form. Make sure it includes all identifying details so we can discuss your results. Send samples and sample submittal form to: Attention: Sample Analysis Carbon Fiber Recycling 161 Giles Industrial Drive Tazewell TN 37879 CFR will perform an analysis free of charge. The results are usually available in less than 2 weeks. ### What is recyclable and what is not At CFR we produce clean and pure recycled carbon fiber. Pyrolysis is a thermal process that operates in the absence of oxygen. This causes the thermal decomposition of organic materials which breaks them into three main products: solids, combustible liquids, and gases. CFR currently is capable of recycling dry-fiber, pre-preg and cured composite materials, however there are items that can be considered contaminants in our system. Material Good No Good Notes Carbon fiber X Urathane X Plastic polymers X Metals Case by case Glass X Sand / dirt X Case by case ### Lab analysis All material must be sampled prior to sending the desired recyclable material for processing. Here is the process: Download the sample submittal form . Gather samples that are representative of all materials you wish to recycle. - Sample sizes should be approximately 3" x 3", unless this would not allow for a true representation of the item you wish to recycle. - All samples should be labelled. Fill out the sample submittal form. Make sure it includes all identifying details so we can discuss your results. Send samples and sample submittal form to: Attention: Sample Analysis Carbon Fiber Recycling 161 Giles Industrial Drive Tazewell TN 378794 CFR will perform an analysis free of charge. The results are usually available in less than 2 weeks. Still have questions? Click here --- ## Press Releases URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/press-releases/ # Press Releases --- ## White Papers URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/white-papers/ # White Papers --- ## Technical Data Sheets URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/technical-data-sheets/ # Technical Data Sheets ## Product Specifications GHS Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Technical Product Specifications --- ## Contact URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/contacts/ # Contact CFR # Contact CFR ## How can we help? #### Carbon Fiber Recycling Shipping Address: 161 Giles Industrial Drive Tazewell, TN 37879-5209 +1 (423) 300 3015 For rCF samples and orders: sales@carbonfiberrecycling.com To recycle your carbon fiber: recycle@carbonfiberrecycling.com All other inquiries: info@carbonfiberrecycling.com ## How can we help? #### Carbon Fiber Recycling Shipping Address: 161 Giles Industrial Drive Tazewell, TN 37879-5209 +1 (423) 300 30 15 For rCF samples and orders: sales@carbonfiberrecycling.com To recycle your carbon fiber: recycle@carbonfiberrecycling.com All other inquiries: info@carbonfiberrecycling.com --- ## Resources URL: https://carbonfiberrecycling.com/resources/ # Resources Please click on the boxes below to view technical specifications and relevant documents. To print a document, open the PDF then choose ‘File – Print’ from your browser menu bar or click the print icon. • Technical Data Sheets • CFR Terms and Conditions • Non Disclosure Agreement • Sample Submittal Form ---