TOWARDS A NEW GENERATION OF GLASS FIBER PRODUCTS BASED ON REGENERATED FIBER THERMALLY RECYCLED FROM END-OF-LIFE GRP AND GRP MANUFACTURING WASTE

摘要

Results are presented from the ReCoVeR project on the regeneration of the strength of thermally conditioned glass fibers. Thermal recycling of end-of-life glass fiber reinforced composites or composite manufacturing waste delivers fibers with virtually no residual strength or value. Composites produced from such fibers also have extremely poor mechanical performance. Data is presented showing that a short hot alkali treatment of such recycled fibers can more than triple their strength and restore their ability to act as an effective reinforcement in second life composite materials. The implications of these results for real materials reuse of recycled glass fibers as replacement for pristine reinforcement fibers are discussed.