Reutilization of waste printed circuit boards nonmetallic powders in elastomer composites: Significant improvements of curing and mechanical properties

Abstract

Recycling of waste printed circuit boards nonmetallic powders (WPCBPs), as one of the significant challenges for sustainable development of resources, has attracted tremendous attentions from scientific and industrial researchers. In this work, the feasibility of WPCBP as curing accelerator and reinforcing filler in styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) composites was first explored. Vulcanization parameters and kinetics of SBR compounds were systematically investigated by moving‐die rheometer and differential scanning calorimeter. The results suggested that the incorporation of WPCBP can effectively reduce vulcanization activation energy and shorten the manufacturing cycle of SBR/SiO2 composites, which may be attributed to the activation effect from metal oxide and accelerating effect from residual additives in WPCBP. On the other hand, the coupling interfacial interactions of rubber‐SiO2 and rubber‐WPCBP result in simultaneous enhancements of tensile strength, tensile modulus, and extensibility of SBR/SiO2/WPCBP composites. Moreover, the potential applications and challenges of SBR/SiO2/WPCBP composites were also briefly analyzed. This work offers a green and efficient reutilization approach of WPCBP in elastomer composites, which may be a valuable inspiration for the high‐valued utilization of WPCBP and the preparation of high‐performance and low‐cost elastomer composites.

High Value-Added Reutilization of Waste-Printed Circuit Boards Non-Metallic Components in Sustainable Polymer Composites

“…), thermoplastics (e.g., polypropylene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, etc. ), and rubber composites, which has sparked extensive attention [73]. In this section, the reutilization of WPCB non-metallic components in different polymer matrixes is comprehensively reviewed, and the structureproperties relationships between WPCB non-metallic components and polymer composites are critically analyzed.…”

“…In particular, in the past few years, driven by environmental pressures, some industrial waste and by-products, including fly ash, marble slag, and agricultural waste, have been used as alternatives to commercial fillers in rubber composites, which give great hope for the high value-added applications of WPCB non-metals [131][132][133]. Therefore, in our previous work, the WPCBP was first introduced into styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites to systematically investigate its potential as a curing additive and reinforcing filler of rubber composites [73]. As shown in Figure 8, the vulcanization behaviors and kinetics of SBR compounds were studied using a moving-die rheometer and differential scanning calorimeter.…”

Study on Rheological Properties of Bituminous Binders and Mixtures Containing Waste Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and SBR Compound Modified Bitumen

“…The non-metallic components of waste PCBs include epoxy resins, phenolic resins, and glass fibres. The resin material can improve the high-temperature properties of bitumen, and glass fibres can provide reinforcement and toughening [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The pyrolytic oil extracted from PCB waste boards has been mixed with polystyrene–butadiene copolymer (SBR) to make a composite binder, and the basic properties of the modified bitumen were studied.…”