Abstract: In this paper, the research of the pyrolysis process of T700 carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites was carried out. The results show that carbon fiber has increased the activation energy required for epoxy resin degradation. The reaction temperature, time and atmosphere factors had affects on the degradation effect of epoxy resin matrix and tensile properties of recycling carbon fiber. There was no residue on the surface of carbon fiber after 30 min pyrolysis at 500 ℃ in air condition, but the retention rate of tensile strength was only about 77.6%. Through the first heat treatment in nitrogen atmosphere at high temperature for a short time, and the second treatment that was pyrolysis at 450 ℃ for 30 min in air, the residual carbon on the surface of carbon fiber were removed. The tensile strength of recycling carbon fiber retention rate reached 90.4% and the interlaminar shear strength of unidirectional composites retention rate can reach 75.8%.

Key words: carbon fiber, epoxy resin, composites, pyrolysis, kine