Recovery of Glass Fibers from Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Abstract

Recovery of glass fibers from fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) has been tackled by our novel technology based upon thermally activated semiconductors such as Cr 2 O 3 , NiO, TiO 2 , and -Fe 2 O 3 . This is a scientifically proven technology which utilizes a vast number of thermallygenerated oxidative holes for instantaneous decomposition of filler-free thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. No shredding or grinding of the scrap FRP is necessary in the present system, nor is the use of organic solvents. FRP plates were simply placed in contact with powdered Cr 2 O 3 and heated at about 350-500 C. As soon as the FRP was sufficiently heated, the polymer matrix began to decompose into H 2 O and CO 2 , leaving behind only glass fibers without any deterioration of their quality. The glass fibers were perfectly recovered, exactly in the original form of ''chopped strand mat''. Our system can recover glass fibers as well as thermal energy.

Reclaim of Rare Earth Metals from Bond Magnets by Means of Thermally Activated Semiconductors (TASC)

“…14,15) Furthermore, metals have also been recovered from mold motors in about 20 min at about 400°C. 15) 3.…”

Recent Advances in TASC (Thermal Activation of Semi-Conductors) Technology for Environmental Issues Focused on the Disassembly and Recycling of Solar Panels and Laminated Glass —A New Technology Characterized by Radical Propagation in Giant Molecules—

“…As stated in Introduction, decomposition of FRPs with a fluidized bed system based on powdered semiconductor is obviously neither practical nor clean. 18) For this reason, we looked closely again into the destruction mechanism and focused on the formation of free radicals and their propagation (Fig. 1).…”

“…Up to now, the TASC-technology has successfully been applied to complete decomposition of VOC (volatile organic compound), 417) or to elimination of polymer matrix to recover valuables, for example, decomposition and recovery of FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), 18,19) repair of partially damaged FRPs, 20) reclaim of rare-earth powder from resinbonded magnets, 21) disassembly and recycling of solar panels and laminated glass (i.e. this publication).…”

“…Our ultimate equipment developed is characterized by heater-embedded or heaterbuilt-in honeycomb system. 17) The task for phase II was aimed at entirely decomposing polymer matrix in composites such as FRP, 18,19) bonded magnets 21) in an attempt to reclaim glass or carbon fibers, and rare-earth powder, respectively. The most difficult issue here was how to cleanly decompose polymer matrix alone to recuperate valuables.…”

Recovery and Characterization of Reinforcing Fibers from Fiber Reinforced Plastics by Thermal Activation of Oxide Semiconductors

“…In view of the above situation, an attempt has been made in our previous investigation 8) to reclaim glass fibers from FRPs on the basis of our novel technology that utilizes thermal activation of semiconductors (TASC).…”