THE CHARACTERIZATION AND REUSE OF GLASS-FIBERS RECYCLED FROM SCRAP COMPOSITES BY THE ACTION OF A FLUIDIZED-BED PROCESS

This paper describes a new fluidised bed process for recovering reinfo rcing fibres from scrap thermoset composites. Glass fibres recovered f rom scrap sheet moulding compound at 450 degrees C using this process have a strength reduced to about half that of virgin fibre. These fibr es have been used as partial and full replacement for virgin fibres in a dough moulding compound (DMC). The main physical properties of plaq ues moulded with the experimental DMCs have been measured. Flexural an d Young's moduli an unaffected by the level of reclaimed fibre used. F lexural and tensile strength are reduced when over 50% of the virgin r einforcement is replaced by fibres recovered at 450 degrees C. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.