DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THERMAL AND CHEMICAL PARAMETERS FOR RECYCLING AND RESTORATION OF GLASS FIBERS FROM COMPOSITE WASTE

Abstract

Previous studies show that Fiber Reinforced Polymers are dumped in landfills after usage or are burned or decomposed by combustion methods. These processes generate environmental waste and landfill problems. The disposal of these composite manufacturing waste and end-of-life composite products in an environmentally friendly manner is one of the most important issues currently faced by the industrial and academic composites community. For the sustainable development of the local industry and economy, these composite wastes need to be recycled. So, to resolve this issue, we are recycling Glass Fibers from Fibers Reinforced Polymers by thermal treatment such as Pyrolysis, but the issue with thermal treatment is strength loss in the recycled fibers. To recover this lost strength, we have done chemical treatment such as Hot Alkaline treatment, which restores the strength of single fibers to 200% compared to the pyrolyzed fibers, by etching the surface defects and by removing residue. And for the composite samples, the strength was restored to 110% compared to the composite sample made from pyrolyzed fibers. Tensile testing was performed on both the pyrolyzed glass fibers as well as on the chemically treated fibers for comparison. The results of these tests and Weibull Distribution showed that these chemically treated fibers can be effectively used for making composite materials.