As computers and their components progress in technology, useful life shortens, leading to large volumes of equipment facing disposition. Used cathode ray tubes especially pose environmental risks due to their lead content. Effective recycling of CRT glass requires an economical disassembly process that results in well-identified and separated glass that meets quality needs for use in new CRTs. A senior student design team studied the problem of how to separate CRT tubes with minimum time and cost, and minimum hazard due to exposure to lead. Laboratory experiments were conducted on four concept variants and the results were analyzed. The design team concluded that diamond cutting of the panel from the funnel, and removal of coatings by plastic media blasting, is the best method studied.
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