Environment and disposal/ Recycling
Environment during manufacturing and machining
Since 1 May 1979, Fiberline Composites A/S have manufactured profiles and structures with the approval of the environmental authorities. Inspections are made on a regular basis.
Fiberline Composites A/S employ the manufacturing method known as pultrusion. This is a process whereby fibres are pulled through a device, into which liquid thermoset plastics are pumped to impregnate the fibres. The liquid themoset plastic is cured with the aid of heat and catalysts are added.
The pultrusion process is very friendly to the environment. At Fiberline, manufacturing is done in closed moulds which minimizes evaporation of volatile substances. This helps ensure the safety of the Fiberline environment. As the polymerisation is exothermic (develops heat itself), energy consumption per unit produced is extremely low. The energy consumption used in production of a composite profile is 1/4 of that required for steel, and 1/6 that for aluminium.
As a member of the Danish Plastics Federation (PD),Fiberline Coposites A/S complies with Federation environmental policies. According to an agreement with the Danish Ministry of the Environment, the Danish Plastics Federation is obliged to participate actively in reduction of volatile organic compounds.
Regular environmental measurements, staff training and focus on waste and emission issues are significant elements in the environmental control of Fiberline Composites A/S.
Fiberline Composites A/S are a member of Green Network, a regional organization of companies and municipalities. The objective is to ensure continual improvement in the environments of the member companies. Fiberline Composites A/S are self-sufficient with green energy from their own wind turbine which meets the needs of the entire company.
Environmental stress at the user's site
Cured polyester or phenolic resin are stable, virtually non-degradable materials which do not pollute the environment. In fact, a great deal of environmental stress is avoided (for example, in comparison with steel) due to the low weight of the material and its need for very little maintenance.
For use in connection with machining of composite profiles, Fiberline Composites A/S have voluntarily compiled environmental safety data for the polyester and phenolic qualities. The most recent version of the safety data is available on request.
Waste handling/ recycling
Fiberline profiles - or remains of them - are classified as fibreglass-reinforced unsaturated polyesters, and at the end of their service life can be tipped or recycled.
Tipped
- Fibreglass-reinforced polyester or phenolic resins are very stable materials which can be tipped as ordinary industrial waste.
The materials do not give off substances that can harm the environment.
Recycling
- First, it should be investigated if used profiles can be reclassified for use under lower requirements and specifications in other circumstances.
- Another possibility for recycling begins with crushing and granulation. The process is already functioning commercially in, for example, Germany, at Ercom Composites Recycling GmbH. The company accepts fibreglass-reinforced unsaturated polyesters against payment, and sells the granulate for reuse.
- Granulated remains of Fiberline profiles can be used as a filler and, to a limited extent, as a reinforcing material.
- In controlled incineration, plastic materials release energy in amounts that make them significant energy carriers for electricity and heating. The composition of incineration gasses is largely comparable to that of incineration gasses from wood.
The remains are the glass fibres which can be reused as landfill or for manufacturing glass wool.
- Tests at the German Arbeitsgemeinschaft Verstärkte Kunststoffe (AKV), among other places, have shown that it is technically possible to break down the molecule chains in uncured polyester by pyrolysis, and then reuse the resulting product as new polyester raw materials. However, pyrolysis is not currently financially viable, due to the prices of raw materials.
Fiberline Composites A/S will be pleased to answer any further questions.
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