THE USE OF RECYCLED PRINTED-CIRCUIT BOARDS AS REINFORCING FILLERS IN THE POLYESTER COMPOSITE

The feasibility of using recycled printed circuit boards (PCB) as rein forcing fillers in manufacturing unsaturated polyester (UP) composites was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechan ical test. The concentrations of Cu leached from the molded products w ere also tested. From the DSC measurement, it was obtained that the ad dition of PCB affected the free radical reaction of the UP resin and d ecreased curing rates at the beginning stage. The methods of surface t reatments also affected the curing kinetics of the UP resin. PCB modif ied UP resins had higher T-g, and were tougher and stronger than the p lain UP because of energy dissipation effects from glass fibers and ri gid epoxy resins in the PCB. The impact energy of the specimen increas ed with increasing the loading of PCB fillers. The size of PCB Fillers and the type of surface treatments affected the mechanical properties and the concentrations of copper leached from molded products. As muc h as 150 parts per hundred PCB could be added in the UP without violat ing the environmental regulation. However, the addition of PCB darkene d the appearance of the molded specimen. Production of UP composites f rom waste PCB was justified.