Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1466836 Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 2012 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

The study reports mechanical performance of the recycled glass fibres produced from a water-based solvolysis technology, known as the hydrolysis process. The chemical reaction was carried out using sub-critical water to dissolve polyester resin and recover the glass fibres from composites. The effect of temperatures, times, catalyst and water amount on mechanical properties of the recovered glass fibres were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and time-of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) analyses were also employed to examine the fibre surface associated with the polyester resin eliminated level after the hydrolysis reaction. The results revealed that by carefully adjusting the hydrolysis parameters the tensile strength and failure strain of the recycled fibres decrease by approximately 40–70% in comparison with virgin fibres while Young’s moduli remain similar. The relationship between the hydrolysis conditions, recovered fibres and mechanical performance was discussed in this study.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Materials Science Ceramics and Composites
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