A product widely used in the most common products that involves non-trivial recycling

Glass fibers have become a very useful support in the production of various products, in the most diverse fields, such as the textiles, boating and construction.

From the point of view of the circularity of products, both the textile waste and the construction waste that contain the fibers are not elements that they can be recycled easily like many other products.

How recycled fiberglass is produced

The production of recycled glass fiber has its origin, mainly, from the bottle scrap that come from the collection and from the recycling of textile waste made from glass fiber spinning.

In fact, recycled fiberglass can come from various fiberglass products that have reached the end of their useful life, such as fabrics, nets or other scrap of glass. This waste is collected and separated from other unwanted materials.

The glass wasteis then shredded to reduce it into smaller fragments. This step helps prepare the waste for the subsequent melting process.

Glass scrap and waste melt at high temperatures. During melting, the fragments come together and form a liquid or semi-liquid molten material called molten glass.

The molten glass is then spun to form filaments or recycled glass fibers. This can be done using methods such as wire pulling or spinning. During spinning, the glass fiber filaments cool and solidify, forming continuous strands of recycled glass fiber.

The recycled fiberglass filaments are cooled and shaped according to the specific needs of the application. They can be cut into desired lengths or machined into specific shapes, such as tiles, panels or other products.

Finally, recycled fiberglass filaments can be used to produce a variety of products, such as thermal insulators, composite panels, building materials or other materials that require the properties of glass fiber.

How glass fibers are classified

Glass fibers can have different physical and chemical characteristics based on the use for which they were designed, let's see some of them:

E glass fibers

E-glass fibers, short for "E-Glass" (E-glass), are the most common and widely used. They are mainly made from scrap glass bottles and have high mechanical strength, good electrical and thermal insulation. These fibers are used in applications such as thermal insulation, reinforcement of composite materials, sound insulation and in the automotive industry.

S glass fibers

S-glass fibers, short for "S-Glass" (S-glass), are a reinforced variant of E-glass fibers. They have higher tensile strength, stiffness, and corrosion resistance than E-glass fibers. They are often used in applications that require exceptional strength performance, such as in aerospace and in the manufacture of high-strength sports equipment. High performance.

C glass fibers

C glass fibers, short for "C-Glass" (C-glass), are obtained using scrap of glass bottles mixed with calcium carbonate and other additives. These fibers exhibit high chemical and thermal resistance, making them suitable for applications that require resistance to aggressive chemicals and high temperatures, such as in the chemical industry and filter manufacturing.

AR glass fibers

AR (Alkali Resistant) glass fibers are used in applications that require resistance to alkaline environment, for example in reinforced concrete.

The specifications of the glass fibers can vary depending on the needs of the final application, and can be customized to provide specific properties such as strength, thermal conductivity, abrasion resistance, etc.

How to recycle fiberglass fabric

Recycling fiberglass fabric can be a complex process and depends on the structure of the fabric itself and its end use. However, in general, the fiberglass recycling process may include the following steps:

Collection

Collect fiberglass fabric waste and separate it from other materials. It is important to make sure that the fiberglass fabric is free from contaminants such as paints, glues or other materials that could affect the recycling process.

Shredding

The fiberglass fabric is then shredded into smaller fragments, usually using a mill or special machine. This step helps break the fiberglass fabric into more manageable pieces for the subsequent recycling process.

Separation

After shredding, the glass fiber fragments undergo a separation process. This can be done using mechanical or physical methods, such as density separation or through the use of magnetic separators. The purpose of this step is to separate the fiberglass from the other materials present in the fabric, such as resins or binders or metallic materials.

Merge

The separated fiberglass is then melted at high temperatures. This melting process transforms the glass fiber into a liquid or semi-liquid state.

Spinning

After melting, the molten glass fiber can be spun into fine filaments or fibers.

How to recycle fiberglass mesh

Fiberglass mesh is a common material used in applications such as structural reinforcement, insulation, filters, and composite materials.

Recycling fiberglass mesh can be a more complex process than fiberglass fabric, but there are some recycling possibilities. Below are some of the general steps involved in recycling fiberglass mesh:

Collection

Collect the fiberglass nets, making sure they are free from contaminants or other materials that could compromise the recycling process.

Shredding

The fiberglass meshes are shredded to reduce them into smaller fragments. This process can be done using specialized machinery which breaks the fiberglass mesh into small pieces.

Separation

The glass fiber fragments obtained are then subjected to a separation process to remove any contaminants or unwanted materials. This may involve using physical or chemical methods to separate the fiberglass from other materials in the mesh.

Merge

After separation, the glass fiber can be melted at high temperatures. Melting makes glass fiber liquid or semi-liquid, allowing it to be transformed into new products.

Spinning or forming

Melted glass fiber can be spun into fine filaments or used for forming new products.

What applications do recycled glass fibers have

Recycled glass fibers can be used in a variety of applications across different industries. Some of the common applications of recycled glass fibers include:

Recycled glass fibers can be used as reinforcement in composite materials, such as glass fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) or concrete reinforced with glass fiber (GRC).

These composite materials offer greater mechanical strength, lightness and durability. They find applications in the automotive industry, construction industry, sports equipment manufacturing and many other industries.

Recycled glass fibers can be used for the production of thermal and acoustic insulating materials. They are used in the manufacture of insulating panels for walls, ceilings and floors, offering high resistance to heat and sound.

These materials find application in residential, commercial and industrial buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce sound transmission.

They can also be spun to produce technical fabrics. These fabrics can have different characteristics, such as heat resistance, electrical insulation, chemical resistance or flame retardant properties. They find use in applications such as protective clothing, thermal insulation coatings, theater curtains, industrial filters and much more.

Recycled glass fibers are used in the production of filters for industry, automotive, air treatment and the gas. Their properties of chemical resistance, thermal resistance and ability to retain fine particles make them ideal for the manufacture of high performance filters.

They also find considerable use in the field of building materials, such as mortars, plasters, tiles and prefabricated products. These materials improve the strength, durability and thermal properties of the final products.

Finally, they are used in a number of industrial products such as cables, pipes, conduits, electrical enclosures and resistant chemicals. Their electrical resistance, chemical resistance and mechanical resistance make them suitable for these applications.

The use of recycled glass fibers reduces the dependence on virgin raw materials and contributes to waste reduction and the circular economy.

Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.