Recycling of Fibre Reinforced Polymer Materials
AssigneeJeosal Materials Research Corporation
InventorOsayuki Osazuwa
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for recovering fibres from fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) materials uses a thermomechanical process to produce high quality recovered fibres and powdered polymer resin. The thermo- (cryo-) mechanical process uses a combination of a selected range of temperatures and mechanical force, and is chemical and solvent-free, and produces zero waste. Fibre length remains unchanged after processing and mechanical properties of the recovered fibres are comparable to or better than those of virgin fibres. The recovered fibres and powdered polymer resin may be used to make new FRP products.
Claims32
A method for recovering fibres and resin powder from fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) material;
- comprising:
- disposing FRP material in a machine having at least one rotor, and simultaneously:
- operating the at least one rotor to apply mechanical force to the FRP material;
- and
- subjecting the FRP material to a selected temperature that does not damage the fibres;
- wherein the combination of mechanical force and selected temperature for a selected duration provides fibres that are substantially free of polymer, and polymer resin powder.
Apparatus for recovering fibres and resin powder from fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) material;
- comprising:
- a processing chamber housing at least one rotor, the processing chamber adapted to receive one or more pieces of the FRP material;
- at least one motor associated with the at least one rotor, the at least one motor adapted to effect rotation of the at least one rotor;
- wherein rotation of the at least one rotor applies a mechanical force to the FRP material that does not damage the fibres;
- wherein a clearance distance between the at least one rotor and a processing chamber wall is reduced over a portion of the rotor diameter;
- wherein a combination of the mechanical force and the selected temperature applied to the FRP material for a selected duration provides fibres that are substantially free of polymer, and polymer resin powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.