Development of an epoxy resin for composites that can be broken down at end-of-life and characterization of the thermoplastic polymer recovered from the recycling process

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Composites are strong, lightweight, and durable so are often used to replace other materials such as metals to save fuel whilst still maintaining the same or improved performance. Every year the UK produces 110,000 tons of composites, however, only 15% of composites are recycled or reused currently which leads to 94,000 tons of glass and carbon fibre composite waste going to UK landfill each year.There are very limited commercial composite recycling methods currently available and these are often not economically viable, especially for glass fibre composites (as glass fibre has a much lower value than carbon fibre). Additionally, those current recycling methods degrade the fibres significantly so they can only be used for limited applications and the resin matrix is not recoverable at all.The products and process developed in this project will address many of the issues facing the composite industry. It will provide a method of recycling composites which will reduce the volume of composites being sent to landfill.The fibres recovered from the recycling process will be of high quality and will reduce the need for virgin fibres. The higher value of carbon fibre will also likely improve the economic viability of the recovery process.To add further to the notion of circularity of economy the matrix resin can be recovered from the recycling process as a thermoplastic resin. This adds value and further improves the economic viability of this recovery process. As a result, recycling of glass fibre composites may be viable with use of this recovery process which is not currently the case with other processes. The recovery of a thermoplastic resin also reduces the industry need for virgin thermoplastic resin which reduces the need for virgin thermoplastics manufactured using non-sustainable resources.