Recycling of Epoxy/Fiberglass Composite Using Pyridine

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Epoxy composites pose recycling challenges.
• Developing efficient methods for recovering high-quality glass fibers is crucial for sustainable materials management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel pyridine-based solvolysis method for recycling epoxy composites.
• To evaluate the quality and properties of recovered glass fibers.
• To assess the performance of recycled materials in new composite applications.

Main Methods:

• Solvolysis of epoxy composites using pyridine under varying temperature conditions (ambient to subcritical, up to 280°C).
• Analysis of recovered fiber properties including tensile strength and surface characteristics via thermogravimetric analysis.
• Fabrication and testing of new fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FGRP) using recycled fibers.

Main Results:

• Pyridine solvolysis effectively swells and degrades the epoxy matrix.
• Glass fibers recovered at boiling point retained 91% tensile strength with 20% surface degradation products.
• Subcritical processing at 250°C for 2 hours yielded fibers with 93% residual tensile strength and minimal organic surface components (2.82%).
• FGRP made with recycled fibers showed a 16.1% increase in flexural strength.

Conclusions:

• Pyridine solvolysis is a viable and effective method for recycling epoxy composites.
• Subcritical pyridine treatment significantly enhances the quality of recycled glass fibers.
• Recycled fibers improve the mechanical properties of new fiberglass-reinforced plastic products, promoting circular economy principles.