Recycling of a Cyclic Thermoplastic Composite Material by Injection and Compression Molding

Abstract

One of the primary projected advantages of the new cyclic thermoplastic- based composites, in addition to their ability to be processed by liquid composite molding, is their potential "recyclability." This paper describes a first attempt to prove the technical feasibility of recycling a cyclic polycarbonate-matrix continuous-glass-fiber composite by two common processes: compression molding and injection molding. The results are somewhat mixed but still encouraging. Parts were reprocessed from ground-up continuous-fiber composites by both injection molding and compression molding. The effects of environmental exposure (water and ethylene glycol) on the composite prior to recycling were also investigated. The injection molded parts exhibited excellent mechanical properties, in some cases exceeding those of the analogous commercially available injection molding grade. The compression molded recycled material, however, showed very poor tensile properties, but its impact properties compared well to comparable commercial materials. The mixed performance of the compression molded material was characterized by microstructural inhomogeneity and matrix microcracks thought to be due to processing deficiencies. Work continues toward improving the quality of these cyclic thermoplastic materials and the recycling processes.

Effect of extrusion reprocessing on the mechanical, thermal, rheological and morphological properties of nylon 6/talc nanocomposites

“…42,43 NT42 was found to have uniform dispersion of nanotalc in the nylon-6 matrix. But the dispersion is more uniform as compared to NT41.…”

“…Also gaps can be seen between the aggregate and the nylon 6, which were the reason for the generation of stress concentrates in the composite, further decreasing the performance properties. 42,43 NT42 was found to have uniform dispersion of nanotalc in the nylon-6 matrix. But the dispersion is more uniform as compared to NT41.…”

Automotive plastic parts design, recycling, research, and development in China

“…Primary recycling is also named as ''closed loop recycling'' 6 in which the polymer from a single product or product type is collected and recycled to the same product. Secondary recycling [7][8][9][10][11][12] uses reclaimed postconsumer materials as a source of material for new products. Tertiary recycling 13,14 involves chemical breakdown of materials which are then reutilized further back in the feedstock chain.…”

Impact resistance of fibrous glass reinforced plastics using polycarbonate‐polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer

“…[3][4] Other articles report specific pigments that keep the toughness of GF-PCs. [5][6] However, no article deals with improving the impact resistance of GF-PCs with PC copolymers.…”