Novel Repair Procedure for CFRP Components Instead of EOL

Today, numerous carbon fiber (CF) reinforced plastic (CFRP) components are in continuous usage under harsh environmental conditions. New components often replace damaged structural parts in safety-critical applications. In addition to this, there is also no effective repair method to initially restore the mechanics of these structures using dry fiber material. The high costs of CFRP components are not in proportion to their lifetime. The research project IGF-19946 BR “CFRP-Repair” addresses this specific challenge. By using an oxide semiconductor that is activated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the thermoset matrix can be depolymerized and thus locally removed from the damaged CFRP component. Afterward, the harmed fibers can be physically removed from the laminate in this certain area. A load-adjusted tailored fiber reinforcement patch is subsequently applied and consolidated by local thermoset re-infiltrating. Using this procedure, the structure can be locally repaired with new CF. As a result, repaired CFRP structures can be obtained with reduced mechanics and an approximately original surface. This article gives an insight into the developed repair procedure of CFRP components in an innovative and more efficient way than the state-of-the-art.