Paper number 434

INCORPORATION OF UNSATURATED POLYESTER BASED MATRIX COMPOSITES INTO A PP-PE COPOLYMER FOR RECYCLING

J.N Reygrobellet, J.M. Lopez Cuesta, A. Crespy

Laboratoire Matrices, Matériaux Minéraux et Organiques
Ecole des Mines d'Alès
6, avenue de Clavières 30100 Alès, France

Summary The aim of this research is to recycle waste of unsaturated polyester-based matrix composites reinforced with glass fibres, by grinding and incorporating it into a PP/PE copolymer matrix. Commercial glass fibres were gradually replaced by the ground waste in the composite until complete substitution was attained. Then, the new materials were mechanically tested. Results show a strong decrease in tensile strength and impact resistance. To improve the mechanical properties of composites, the incorporation of an interfacial agent was tested. For this purpose, four different weight contents of an interface agent were introduced. This additive noticeably improves the mechanical results of these new materials. The incorporation of 5% of interfacial agent is found to produce almost the same mechanical results as composites containing only commercial glass fibres.
Keywords recycling, unsaturated polyester, glass fibres, calcium carbonate, PP-PE copolymer.

Theme : Environmental concerns ; Recycling

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