Consider the following statements : 1. Carbon fibres are used in the

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. Carbon fibres are used in the manufacture of components used in automobiles and aircraftes.
  • 2. Carbon fibres once used cannot be recycled.

Which of the statements give above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2023
The correct option is A, meaning only statement 1 is correct.
Statement 1 is correct. Carbon fibres and carbon fibre composites (CFRPs) are widely used in high-performance applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and corrosion resistance. They are integral in the manufacture of structural components for aircraft (e.g., wings, fuselage parts) and high-end automobiles (chassis, body panels), as well as sports equipment and wind turbine blades.
Statement 2 is incorrect. While challenging and less developed than traditional material recycling, carbon fibre composites *can* be recycled using various methods, including mechanical recycling (shredding/milling), pyrolysis (thermal decomposition), and solvolysis (chemical decomposition). Recycled carbon fibres can then be used in new composite materials. The infrastructure and economic viability are still developing, but it is not true that they *cannot* be recycled.
The recycling of carbon fibre composites is an active area of research and development aimed at reducing waste from manufacturing and end-of-life products and recovering valuable materials.