POLYESTER COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH RECYCLED FR-4 EPOXY LAMINATES

The feasibility of using recycled FR-4 epoxy laminates as reinforcing fillers in manufacturing unsaturated polyester (UP) composites was stu died using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and flexural tests . UP resins filled with recycled laminates had a higher flexural stren gth and modulus than the plain UP because of energy dissipation effect s from glass fibers and rigid epoxy resins in the laminates. The size and loading of the laminates affected the flexural properties of the m olded products. The addition of CaCO3 fillers and Cu decreased the fle xural strength but promoted the flexural modulus of the UP. As reveale d by DSC measurements the presence of laminates affected the free-radi cal reaction of the UP resin and decreased the curing rate. The curing kinetics were also dependent on the size and relative content of the laminates added.