**1. Introduction**

In the last decades have revealed significant changes in the world in terms of the use of materials in various fields, mutations complained so special requirements of peak areas and increasingly diversified requirements related to the production of consumer goods and not least all environmental requirements.

Composite materials are considered engineering materials that can replace non-ferrous or ferrous materials. Polymer composite materials have a large applicability in a different industries such as electrical engineering, electronics, building and civil engineering, rail, road and marine, aerospace technique and aeronautical, etc. [1–8].

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Composite materials consist of reinforcement material (glass fiber, carbon fiber, Kevlar, etc.) and a matrix (polyester resin, epoxy resin, and so on). Fiber glass is the most used reinforcing materials. They have many characteristics: high tensile strength, high chemical resistance, low cost. To obtain low price or to give high properties to a composite material we can include in a structure auxiliary materials, like: coupling agents, catalysts, pigments, accelerators and so on [9].

reinforcement that can be embedded in other materials or can be used for obtaining reinforced composite materials. A solution for recycling such composite materials has been to

Recycling of Polymeric Composite Materials http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81281 105

The recovery and recycling of polymeric composite materials has experienced an important concern in the last years. Researches dedicated to technologies for recycling composite mate-

Mixtures of concrete with sand and fiberglass waste are known [14–16]. Waste composites can be used for concrete reinforcement or for a variety of construction materials. However, these materials from the known technical solutions point of view have higher density, lower mechanical properties, and the external factors like: UV radiation, moisture, sunlight, influ-

A chemical recycling of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin has been proposed by Dang et al. [17]. PET reinforced with glass fiber was recycled by Giraldi et al. [18], while Bartl et al. [19] study the fibers recycling obtained from tires. Vilaseca et al. [20] treat in their research recycled Kraft fibers (recycled softwood fibers) that coming from old sacs, used as reinforcement for the preparation of polypropylene composites. Composite materials obtained from wood

Hugo et al. [23] were investigated recycled polymers with a range of different fillers, and

In order to make the ornamental plates used in the field of construction, a number of manufacturing processes are known which use sand mixtures with different binders: plaster, whitewash or cement [24, 25]. The obtained material as a dry mix or mortar is poured and pressed into a mold. After reinforcement of the material, the plate is extracted from the mold, after

grind these materials, **Figure 2** and create new composite products.

rials were initiated and carried out by different authors, [10–13].

fibers were analyzed by Nemes et al. [21] and Augier et al. [22].

developed applications that use waste thermoplastic polymer.

which time is left for stabilization, and then it can be used.

ence the degradation of these.

**Figure 2.** Ground glass fiber.

The storage of waste composite materials and the recovery of these, it's an important problem that we have nowadays. In **Figure 1**, it can be seen composite parts out of use and composite waste resulted from different production processes that occupy considerable spaces for storage. In time the accumulation of such materials can create serious problems to the manufacturing companies.

Because the interest to find solutions for recovering or recycling is very low, the accumulation in time of composite materials waste is very significant. We can obtain a material rich in glass fiber by grinding the composite materials waste. Thus, it's obtaining a very valuable

**Figure 1.** Composite materials waste stored.

reinforcement that can be embedded in other materials or can be used for obtaining reinforced composite materials. A solution for recycling such composite materials has been to grind these materials, **Figure 2** and create new composite products.

The recovery and recycling of polymeric composite materials has experienced an important concern in the last years. Researches dedicated to technologies for recycling composite materials were initiated and carried out by different authors, [10–13].

Mixtures of concrete with sand and fiberglass waste are known [14–16]. Waste composites can be used for concrete reinforcement or for a variety of construction materials. However, these materials from the known technical solutions point of view have higher density, lower mechanical properties, and the external factors like: UV radiation, moisture, sunlight, influence the degradation of these.

A chemical recycling of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin has been proposed by Dang et al. [17]. PET reinforced with glass fiber was recycled by Giraldi et al. [18], while Bartl et al. [19] study the fibers recycling obtained from tires. Vilaseca et al. [20] treat in their research recycled Kraft fibers (recycled softwood fibers) that coming from old sacs, used as reinforcement for the preparation of polypropylene composites. Composite materials obtained from wood fibers were analyzed by Nemes et al. [21] and Augier et al. [22].

Hugo et al. [23] were investigated recycled polymers with a range of different fillers, and developed applications that use waste thermoplastic polymer.

In order to make the ornamental plates used in the field of construction, a number of manufacturing processes are known which use sand mixtures with different binders: plaster, whitewash or cement [24, 25]. The obtained material as a dry mix or mortar is poured and pressed into a mold. After reinforcement of the material, the plate is extracted from the mold, after which time is left for stabilization, and then it can be used.

**Figure 2.** Ground glass fiber.

Composite materials consist of reinforcement material (glass fiber, carbon fiber, Kevlar, etc.) and a matrix (polyester resin, epoxy resin, and so on). Fiber glass is the most used reinforcing materials. They have many characteristics: high tensile strength, high chemical resistance, low cost. To obtain low price or to give high properties to a composite material we can include in a structure

The storage of waste composite materials and the recovery of these, it's an important problem that we have nowadays. In **Figure 1**, it can be seen composite parts out of use and composite waste resulted from different production processes that occupy considerable spaces for storage. In time the accumulation of such materials can create serious problems to the manufac-

Because the interest to find solutions for recovering or recycling is very low, the accumulation in time of composite materials waste is very significant. We can obtain a material rich in glass fiber by grinding the composite materials waste. Thus, it's obtaining a very valuable

auxiliary materials, like: coupling agents, catalysts, pigments, accelerators and so on [9].

turing companies.

104 Product Lifecycle Management - Terminology and Applications

**Figure 1.** Composite materials waste stored.

For the same purpose, for the production of alternative materials it is known the manufacturing process of reinforced mortars used in construction [26, 27]. These mortars include besides sand, whitewash, cement, gypsum and various reinforcement materials, such as: hemp fiber, glass fiber, etc.

The recycling after separation of mixtures is a much more interesting because you have to drive theoretically product with performance very close to the base polymeric materials. In practice, the properties of recycled materials approaching initial properties of the base material, unless methods are very effective waste sorting and waste have undergone significant

Recycling of Polymeric Composite Materials http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81281 107

Sorting of waste is done according to the basic polymeric material. The sequence of operations

Shredding. At this stage, the materials must be recovered shrinks size to be easily transported

Separation of metals is well-established methods, obviating the mixture all existing metal

• Shredding and/or spraying. This stage is complementary to the first mentioned. At this stage takes place and the washing waste. Choppers additional step is required for further

• Washing and drying is intended to remove all impurities. In general washing is done with water and detergent, but depending on the nature of impurities at this stage can put com-

• Separation using air or hydro cyclones and disposal are conventional methods for separating materials based on the difference in density. The process stream is brought into contact with a stream of air (water) in a cyclone. With these separation methods do not obtain high degrees of purity. Moreover, this mineral phase (mineral fillers) often change the apparent

By materializing the proposed project creates prerequisites for achieving scientific and technological results, competitive at European level in order to increase the visibility of Romanian

The resolving of proposed assignment will lead to the development of science-based knowledge of the manufacturing processes of parts of polymeric composite materials reinforced with biodegradable waste. The aim is to achieve a topic fundamental research, advanced to develop methods and technologies for recycling polymer composite materials and develop new recipes using biodegradable waste. It thus aims to improve the quality, productivity and competitiveness of industrial products. This is possible by using a multidisciplinary approach to research that brings together knowledge of chemistry, mathematics, physics, rheology and

plex problems. Flushing is required followed by spin drying to remove water.

research, especially to subsequently transfer the results in socio-economic practice.

**3. Proposed new composite material and manufacturing method for** 

occupy important storage areas with an impact on the environment.

Both composite materials and waste composite materials resulting from production processes

density of the polymer, making it difficult to separate.

degradation during operation.

and handled.

processing easier.

technological engineering.

**ornamental synthetic plates**

mainly comprises the following steps:

fragments (e.g. electromagnetic methods).

The disadvantages of these processes are the high time of plates obtaining and their reduced mechanical characteristics. Other disadvantages of the plates obtained by these processes are the high density of the material and the degradation in time under the influence of external factors: humidity, sun, UV radiation.

Reinforced materials and manufacturing procedures have a significant influence on the quality, productivity and competitiveness of composite structures. The interface between matrixreinforced materials plays an essential part in the mechanical behavior and fabrication of composite materials.
