Thermoplastic composites can be remelted and reshaped, offering better recycling and repair potential than thermosets. This review compares matrices, reinforcements and compression molding, thermoforming, automated tape placement and in-situ consolidation. Processing heat and pressure govern voids, crystallinity, interfaces and mechanical performance. Despite circular-economy potential, viscoelastic damage, fatigue, moisture, hygrothermal exposure and residual stress make service-life prediction difficult.
Key findings
- Manufacturing directly shapes microstructure and strength. Reprocessability supports recycling, but interface bonding, moisture, dynamic loading and residual stress limit reliability. Priority directions include interface engineering, process control, data-driven modeling and sustainable design.
Why this matters globally
Solving durability and recycling could reduce weight and waste across automotive, aerospace, marine and construction applications. Environmental benefit still requires LCA covering manufacturing energy, recycled-material quality and realistic reuse cycles.
Thai researcher contribution
Suchart Siengchin and affiliated coauthors connect King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok's composite-materials expertise with the global circular-manufacturing agenda.
Limitations to consider
The abstract does not report search protocol, inclusion criteria or quality appraisal, so this is best treated as a critical narrative review rather than a systematic review. Cross-study performance may not be directly comparable, and technical recyclability does not guarantee collection, separation or markets.