Evaluation of Polymer Matrix Composite Waste Recycling Methods

Abstract Polymer-based matrix composite materials are in high demand in many different fields: aeronautics, pressure vessel manufacturing, wind turbine blade manufacturing, and others. Due to the great mechanical properties of fiber reinforced plastics, it is a desirable material for various applications, but at the same time its heterogenic structure makes the composite waste hard to recycle. This paper focuses on different fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) waste recycling methods and their comparison by carrying out literature review and using multi-criteria decision making analysis (MCDA). Four polymer matrix composite waste recycling methods are compared to calculate which one has the best sustainability performance based on the chosen criteria. Analytical Hierarchy Process and TOPSIS are applied for criteria weighing and method comparison. Sensitivity analysis is used to evaluate the obtained results. It is concluded that more studies concerning different FRP waste recycling method sustainability performance need to be done, to derive more data, that would make MCDA more reliable and also other FRP waste recycling methods could be compared. Another conclusion is that different methods have different strengths which makes it hard to compare them. While FRP waste recycling is getting more broadly used, there still is a lot of work to establish wide spread effective system of FRP waste recycling that is both economically viable and gives the best results concerning recycled material quality.

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Life cycle extension of damaged pipelines using fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite wraps

Solutions for Sustainable Development ◽

10.1201/9780367824037-30 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 235-244

Author(s):

J. Lukács ◽

Zs. Koncsik ◽

P. Chován

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Matrix Composite ◽

Polymer Matrix ◽

Polymer Matrix Composite ◽

Fiber Reinforced Polymer ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Reinforced Polymer

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A technology review of recycling methods for fiber-reinforced thermosets

Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites ◽

10.1177/07316844211055208 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 073168442110552

Author(s):

Xiao Xue ◽

Shu-Yan Liu ◽

Zhao-Yang Zhang ◽

Qing-Zhou Wang ◽

Cheng-Zhi Xiao

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Waste Recycling ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Reinforced Plastics ◽

Thermal Pyrolysis ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Fiber Reinforced Plastics ◽

Technology Review ◽

Made In

The rapidly rising demand for fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) has led to large volumes of manufacturing and end-of-life waste. Recycling fiber-reinforced thermosets is very difficult owing to their complex structure and heterogeneity. Landfill and incineration have become the most commonly used methods for eliminating non-degradable FRP waste, which adversely affects the environment and ecology. The purpose of this review is to evaluate end-of-life FRP recycling technologies in terms of optimizing the reuse/recycling of resources and eliminating waste, thereby improving FRP waste management. The technical progress made in the recycling of thermosetting composites is reviewed, including mechanical, thermal (pyrolysis and fluidized-bed), and chemical (critical fluid and low-temperature solvent) methods. The technical feasibility of each method was compared, and the economic and environmental impacts were considered. The challenges and opportunities facing the establishment of a composite recycling market in the future are examined. Finally, we provide a comprehensive summary of the scope of each recycling method.

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Semi-active vibration control of MRF core PMC cantilever sandwich beams: Experimental study

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part L Journal of Materials Design and Applications ◽

10.1177/1464420720903078 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 234 (4) ◽

pp. 574-585

Author(s):

J Vipin Allien ◽

Hemantha Kumar ◽

Vijay Desai

Keyword(s):

Glass Fiber ◽

Matrix Composite ◽

Polymer Matrix ◽

Polyester Resin ◽

Magnetorheological Fluid ◽

Polymer Matrix Composite ◽

Sandwich Beams ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽

Fluid Core

The semi-active vibration control of sandwich beams made of chopped strand mat glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite (PMC) and magnetorheological fluid (MRF) core were experimentally investigated in this study. Two-, four- and six-layered glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composites were prepared using the hand-layup technique. The magnetorheological fluid was prepared in-house with 30% volume of carbonyl iron powder and 70% volume of silicone oil. Nine cantilever sandwich beams of varying thicknesses of the top and bottom layers glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite beams and middle magnetorheological fluid core were prepared. The magnetorheological fluid core was activated with a non-homogeneous magnetic field using permanent magnets. The first three modes, natural frequencies and damping ratios of the glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite-magnetorheological fluid core sandwich beams were determined through free vibration analysis using DEWESoft modal analysis software. The amplitude frequency response of the glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite-magnetorheological fluid core sandwich beams through forced vibration analysis was determined using LabVIEW. The effect of various parameters such as magnetic flux density, thickness of glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite layers and magnetorheological fluid core layer on the natural frequencies, damping ratio and vibration amplitude suppressions of the glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite-magnetorheological fluid core sandwich beams was investigated. Based on the results obtained, 2 mm thickness top and bottom layers glass fiber reinforced polyester resin polymer matrix composite and 5 mm thickness magnetorheological fluid core sample have achieved a high shift in increased natural frequency, damping ratio and vibration amplitude suppression under the influence of magnetic flux density.

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