Threaded rod Wrench

Dr He and Associate Professor Doolan, along with their collaborators, recently published their findings regarding recycling carbon fibre in the journal Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing.

Carbon fibres are thin strands of carbon that are exceptionally strong and lightweight. The fibres are combined with plastic to create a composite which can be used to construct a variety of products.

304 Stainless Steel Threaded Rod - The 304 stainless steel threaded rod is designed for multipurpose uses including hanging fixtures, sprinklers, lights, and much more. This corrosion-resistant threaded bar can withstand harsher environments compared to any of the other carbon steel threaded rod options. The 304 stainless steel flat washer and 304 stainless steel hex nuts are conveniently compatible with this all-thread option.

“This project was a collaboration with our partner in the automotive industry who wants to investigate building cars out of recycled carbon fibre,” explained Dr He.

All threadnut tool

A307 Hot Dip Galvanized Threaded Rod- The A307 hot dip galvanized threaded rod is a fully threaded bar designed for multi-purpose use including hanging fixtures, sprinklers, lights, and much more. The hot-dip galvanized coating provides enhanced corrosion resistance compared to the A307 plain finish threaded rod. The hot-dip galvanized flat washer and the Grade 2 hot-dip galvanized hex nut is intended to be used with this product.

Threaded rod nut tool

This presents a problem when these products reach the end of their useable life, as they’re either difficult or expensive to recycle, or both.

Grade B7 Hot Dip Galvanized Threaded Rod - The Grade B7 hot-dip galvanized fully threaded rod is a heavy-duty threaded bar that is commonly used to bolt pipe flanges together as it can handle both high-temperature and high-pressure applications. It has greater corrosion resistance than the Grade B7 threaded rod with a plain finish. The compatible fasteners for this all-thread style are the A194 Grade 2H heavy hex nut and F436 hot-dip galvanized flat washer.

Grade 55 Plain Finish Threaded Rod - Grade 55 threaded rod with a plain finish is a fully threaded bar designed for multi-purpose indoor use. This threaded bar is typically used for structural anchoring including anchoring down light poles and stop lights. The plain finish flat washer and the Grade 2 plain finish hex nut are both intended to be used with this threaded rod for high performance.

One of the lead researchers from the UNSW Canberra Advanced Manufacturing Research Group, Associate Professor Matthew Doolan, said that as the world progressed with engineering and technological advancements, it needed to think more about reducing waste.

Threaded rodtools

Car manufacturers are interested in carbon fibre vehicles as the decrease in weight would make the cars significantly more energy efficient. This would help them to meet the fuel efficiency standard announced by the Australian Government earlier this year. As we transition to electric vehicles, this would also help reduce vehicle electricity consumption, thereby increasing vehicle range.

Grade 55 Hot Dip Galvanized Threaded Rod - The Grade 55 hot-dip galvanized threaded rod is typically used for structural anchoring including anchoring down light poles and stop lights. The hot-dip galvanized finish is very corrosion resistant and withstands harsher weather environments than the Grade 55 plain finish threaded rod. The hot-dip galvanized flat washer and the Grade 2 hot-dip galvanized hex nut are both intended to be used with this threaded bar for high performance.

316 Stainless Steel Threaded Rod - The 316 stainless steel finish provides maximum corrosion resistance that can withstand harsh environments including exposure near saltwater. The 316 stainless steel threaded rod is designed for use with the 316 stainless steel flat washers and 316 stainless steel hex nuts for outstanding performance.

Carbon fibre is commonly used to build aircraft, wind turbines, and it is the primary material used in Formula 1 cars, which need to be as light as possible to increase performance. You might encounter carbon fibre in high-end bicycles and other sporting equipment like hockey sticks or tennis racquets.

“Typically, it is only reused to make low-value products like tables or chairs, products that don’t experience heavy forces or loads.

All ThreadWrench

UNSW is located on the unceded territory of the Bidjigal (Kensington campus), Gadigal (City and Paddington Campuses) and Ngunnawal peoples (UNSW Canberra) who are the Traditional Owners of the lands where each campus of UNSW is situated.

All threadcutter

For example, as the world transitions to electric vehicles, disposing of their used batteries, some made with highly toxic materials, will be a challenge.

Dewaltall threadCutter

However, a UNSW Canberra researcher has developed a new method to recycle it in a way that not only means less of the material is wasted, but also uses less energy and leaves more of it intact and able to be turned into more useful new products.

UNSW Canberra researcher Di He said that, until now, recycling carbon fibre had always resulted in the material being heavily degraded.

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As it stands, many advanced products either end up in landfill or incinerated, and that is a waste of valuable resources and harmful to the planet.

Zinc Plated A307 Threaded Rod - The  Zinc Plated A307 Threaded Rod is commonly used in the Manufacturing, Plumbing and Construction Industries.  Zinc threaded rod is versatile to anchor and stabilize objects.  The zinc plating provides a moderate corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use in interior and mildly corrosive environments.

Grade B7 Plain Finish Threaded Rod - The Grade B7 plain finish threaded rod is a heavy-duty threaded bar that is commonly used to bolt pipe flanges together as it can handle both high-temperature and high-pressure applications. It is designed for dry indoor use only. The Grade A194 Grade 2H heavy hex nut with a plain finish and the F436 flat washer with a plain finish is conveniently compatible with this threaded rod style.

Threaded Rod Cutter

“The mechanical performance of objects made from the existing recycled fibres is degraded by 80 to 90 per cent, compared to using new fibres.

While the recycled carbon fibre produced using Dr He’s method is not yet able to be used to construct a car, it is significantly closer to that goal than before. The new and improved recycled carbon fibre can potentially be used to construct individual parts of a car, such as a roof.

Threaded rod is very versatile for many indoor and outdoor applications. All-thread rod effectively fastens two materials together. This hardened steel can be inserted into materials including concrete, wood, and metal. The hex nuts and flat washers are used with the threaded rod for excellent, long-term performance.

“As we make more advanced products we also make them from significantly more advanced materials, and as a result we are creating problems at the end of the life of that product,” Associate Professor Doolan said.

“The existing method of recycling involves shredding the composite, which destroys the carbon fibre, before heating it to remove the plastic. After it has been shredded, the fibres look like individual hairs or cotton wool strands.

A307 Plain Finish Threaded Rod - Threaded rod with the A307 plain finish is designed for multi-purpose dry indoor use. This threaded rod option is excellent for hanging fixtures, sprinklers, lights, and much more. The plain finish flat washer and the Grade 2 plain finish hex nut are compatible with this all thread bar.

As the world continually takes steps forward in manufacturing and technology, products are built using more advanced materials and become more sophisticated, but also more complicated.

Ultra-light cars made from recycled carbon fibre are a step closer thanks to a new method of recycling, developed at UNSW Canberra, which leaves the product substantially stronger.

Carbon fibre is a costly product to make, which explains the appeal of recycled carbon fibre, in addition to the environmental benefits. Recycling carbon fibre requires one-tenth of the energy needed to produce it from scratch.