Characterisation of products from the recycling of glass fibre reinforced polyester waste by pyrolysis

A thermoset polyester/styrene copolymer reinforced with glass fibre was pyrolysed in a fixed-bed reactor at 450 degreesC. The main gases evolved were CO and CO2, which accounted for more than 75 vol% of the total gas composition. Other gases identified were H-2, CH4 and other hydrocarbons from C-2 to C-4. The properties of the pyrolytic oil, including calorific value, viscosity and elemental analysis, suggested that it could be a viable liquid fuel. The condensable products could also be a valuable source of chemical feedstocks including styrene and phthalic anhydride, which could potentially be recycled into polyester/styrene resins. The glass fibre recovered from the solid residue had mechanical properties which indicated that they could replace up to 20 wt% of virgin glass fibre in Dough Moulding Compound. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.