American scientists from Rice University in Texas have developed a method for recycling glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). This material is particularly durable, making it very difficult to reuse. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Sustainability (NatSustain).
GFRP is used to make aircraft parts and wind turbine blades. But the stronger and more complex composition of the polymer means that much of this waste ends up in landfill at the end of its service life.
Experts have created an energy-saving technology that turns the composite into silicon carbide, which is widely used in manufacturing – semiconductors, sandpaper and other products are made from it.
In the new process, glass fiber is crushed and then carbon is added to the resulting crumbs, making the mixture conductive. After this, high voltage is applied to the composition and its temperature is brought to 2900 °C.
At this temperature, the material turns into silicon carbide. The cost of processing this way was $0.05 per kilogram; This was much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than just burning it.
Scientists have learned before decompose plastic using worms’ gut microbes.