Recycling thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) waste glass produced as glass-ceramics

The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directives are designed to deal with the rapidly increasing waste stream comprised of electrical and electronic equipment. Recycling electrical and electronic equipment reduces the quantity of waste going to final disposal. The demand for thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, commonly used in everyday electronic products, is increasing. Conventionally adopted treatments of TFT-LCD waste glass cannot meet WEEE directives. This study adopts the following operating conditions in fabricating glass-ceramics: sintering temperature of 800-950 degrees C; sintering time of 6 h; and, temperature increase rate of 5 degrees C/min. The glass-ceramic samples then underwent a series of tests, including the Vickers hardness, water absorption and porosity tests, to determine product quality. The Vickers hardness was 12.1 GPa when fired at 900 degrees C for 6 h, and density was 2.4 g/cm(3) and water absorption was 0%. Thus, TFT-LCD waste glass can be regarded as a good glass-ceramic material. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.