The Mechanical Property of Recycled Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites by Superheated Steam

Abstract

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites are used in many applications for their excellent strength-to-weight ratio. These properties are significant barriers for achieving the 3R concept (Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce). Inverse manufacturing is a recent technology that produces new materials and industrial goods from FRP waste based on life-cycle assessment (LCA), and it is expected to help solve the problems of 3R associated with FRP [1-. However, no effective recycling system of FRP has been established because of the cross-linked structure of thermosetting resin matrix and inorganic reinforcement fibers. To investigate the possibility of recycling and reusing both matrix and reinforcements, a project of preventing environmental deterioration was performed. In this study, a new decomposition method for recycling FRP waste by superheated steam was developed. Separation of the resin matrix and reinforcement fiber from the FRP was attempted, the FRP recycled from the separated fibers was remolded; this is called R-FRP.