Enhanced and Horizontal Recycling Technology of FRP Using Sub-Critical Water (3)

Abstract

SynopsisIn enhanced and horizontal recycling of FRP, Fiber Reinforced Plastics, which are very difficult to be recycled, optimization of alcohols used to develop shrinkage control effect as a low profile additive for FRP forming on styrenefumaric acid copolymer (SFC) was conducted. 1-octanol showed the highest performance. Scale-up of SFC separation and modification process using 1-octanol was tried and pilot plant was built. Pilot test demonstrated the extraction rate of 97% and the conversion of 75%, which are equivalent and 90% of bench test result in SFC separation process, respectively. The thickened modified SFC was successfully discharged from the vessel by adding methanol to reaction liquid. The obtained SFC was used to make an FRP sample board as recycled low profile additive (LPA) with styrene and tested comparing with a commercial LPA. The recycled LPA showed higher shrinkage control performance than the commercial LPA and met criteria for major quality items. Observation of the cross section, FRP sample board using the recycled LPA demonstrated many smaller voids than the one using the commercial LPA and they were uniformly dispersed.