Recycling and valorization of glass fibre thermoset composite waste by cold incorporation into a sustainable inorganic polymer matrix. (15th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yixue; Pontikes, Yiannis; Lessard, Larry; Willem van Vuure, Aart
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 223(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-15
• Subjects: Glass fibre thermoset waste -- Inorganic polymer -- Mechanical recycling -- Mechanical properties; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: Industrial applications using recycled fibres or resins are still rare due to inferior performance to cost ratio. In most cases, glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) materials with thermoset matrices are considered unsuitable for reprocessing and reuse as a valuable reinforcement of composites. In this work, mechanical frictional grinding is utilized to recover the reinforcement fibres, which are still partially coated with the used epoxy resin. For the first time, the possibility and valorization potential of incorporating all the recycled GFRP waste into a Fe-rich silicate slag, a byproduct of non-ferrous metallurgy production, is evaluated. The results show that this double-recycling route does not only allow for a much greater level of GFRP waste incorporation (20 wt%) in the inorganic matrix but also achieves remarkable flexural strength enhancement (79%) when compared with other results from the literature on fiber-reinforced cementitious materials. Highlights: Frictional grinding was used to recycled the glass fibre thermoset composite. All waste (with resin) was for the first time used into a Fe-rich inorganic polymer. The recyclates notably increase inorganic polymer's flexural strength (up to 79%). The resin residues play a dual-role in the system. This study provides a promising and green solution for glass fibre thermoset waste.