Recycling of PP-based Sandwich Panels with Continuous Fiber Composite Skins

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this article, a procedure for recycling of polypropylene (PP)-based sandwich panels is presented. PP/glass laminates as the skins and PP foam as the core material are used. The waste panel is converted into short-fiber composite material. The panel is first ground by a mill and homogenized in a mixer or an extruder, then the pellets are re-ground and injection molded. The influence of mixer parameters and fiber content on the mechanical and physical properties of the recycled material is experimentally investigated. The orientation and length of the glass fibers are measured using an optical microscope; SEM analysis is used to characterize the morphology of injection-molded samples.