Glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) is a composite material which provides high mechanical performance combined with low weight. Therefore, it is used in many applications with mechanically stressed light-weight constructions, such as wind turbine rotor blades. At their end-of-life such composites are usually deposited or down-cycled, e.g. in thermal combustion for cement industry. At present there is no closed-loop approach as e.g. for glass container recycling [1]. Rethinking GFRP within the concept of design for recycling, we are working on a composite material, which is produced in a resource-saving way and is completely degradable.

Firstly, we developed a distinctive glass composition, which is easily drawn into fibres, revealing high strength and Youngs modulus and a distinct time sensitive dissolution behaviour under defined external conditions. This hydrolytically active glass in combination with a biocompostable plastic makes up a GFRP which is designed for recycling.

We will present our fibre drawing procedure, the mechanical properties of the drawn fibres using single-fibre tensile tests as well as our investigation of their temperature dependent chemical stability in different aqueous media at neutral and alkaline pH values as well as in different salt solutions. Candidate compositions will be proposed for the manufacturing of GFRP in combination with biocompostable plastic. 

[1] Bundesverband WindEnergie e. V., Rückbau und Recycling von Windenergieanlagen: Hintergrundpapier des Bundesverband WindEnergie e. V. 2019.