Chemoenzymatic degradation of epoxy composites

A method for degrading a composite material comprising the following successive steps:

• a) submitting a composite material CM comprising an epoxy resin C and reinforcing fibers to a chemical pretreatment, said chemical pretreatment comprising contacting the composite material CM with an organic solvent having a boiling point greater than the glass transition temperature Tg of the composite material CM at a treatment temperature Ttr of at least 100° C. and exceeding by at least 10° C. the glass transition temperature Tg of the composite material CM to obtain composite material CM1, wherein:
• the treatment temperature Ttr exceeds by at least 10° C. the glass transition temperature Tg of the composite material CM as determined by DSC in accordance ASTM E1356-08 (2014), with the proviso that when no glass transition temperature can be detected by DSC in accordance ASTM E1356-08 (2014), the treatment temperature Ttr satisfies at least one condition chosen from conditions (c1) and (c2);
• wherein condition (c1) is that a glass transition temperature Tg2 can be determined by DMA in accordance with ASTM D7028-07 (2015) and the treatment temperature Ttr exceeds by at least 10° C. the glass transition temperature Tg2;
• and
• wherein condition (c2) is that the treatment temperature is of at least 300° C.;
• then,
• b) submitting the composite material obtained after step a) to an enzymatic treatment, said enzymatic treatment comprising contacting the composite material with at least one enzyme to obtain composite material CM3;
• wherein steps a) and b) are performed at least once.