Recycling of Fiberglass Fillers Obtained from Polymer Composites Based on an Epoxy Vinyl Ester Binder

Data found from an experimental study on the possibility of recycling polymer composites on the example of a fiberglass made from a linen fiberglass and an epoxy vinyl ester binder are presented with the aim to remove the polymer matrix and obtain a recovered fiberglass not inferior in its properties to the virgin material. The solvolysis method of the composite in a methyldiethanolamine medium is considered. The solvolysis time and the concentration of alkali metal hydroxide in the reaction medium in relation to the strength of recovered glass fibers is established. The solvolysis at a temperature of 180°С and a catalyst concentration of 5% for 6 h was accepted as the optimal regime. As a result, a regime that allowed us to recover fibers with a tensile strength equal to 92% of that of virgin fibers was determined. The recovered fabrics were studied by a thermal analysis and the scanning electron microscopy. GFRP samples were obtained from the recovered fabrics by the VaRTM method. The flexural strength of composites made from the secondary filler was 8.5% lower than that of the same material based on a virgin fabric.