Structural Integrity and Durability of Advanced Composites

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Recycling of reinforced plastics

R.D. Adams^1,2, A. Collins¹, D. Cooper¹, M.W. Digby¹, A.W. Farmer¹, A. Laurence¹, K. Patel¹, M. Stevens¹,  and R. Watkins^1     1University of Bristol, Bristol, UK     ²University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Abstract

This work has shown that it is possible to recycle continuous and short fibre-reinforced thermosetting resins while keeping almost the whole original material, both fibres and matrix, within the recyclate. By splitting, crushing hot or cold, and hot forming, it is possible to create a recyclable material, which we designate a Remat, which can then be used to remanufacture other shapes, examples of plates and tubes being demonstrated. Not only can remanufacturing be done, but it has been shown that more than ...