Curing Waste Cut Offs From Pre-Preg Fiberglass

Heat lamps would work. Depending on the cure mechanism, sunlight might do it.

Many types of prepregs require refrigeration or they will cure by them selves.

Can you get the specific name and type of prepreg?

thank you for the information

UV lights will do it probably.

Depends on the resin.

most all resins will react to UV, some more than others. Heat will usually accelerate it. Gamma/x-rays work too... only ones that i've ever encountered that it wont work on are ones loaded with opaque fillers that limit the UV penetration.

What is waste fibreglass recycled into?

Do you have any waste heat in your recycling facility?

The waste fiberglass can be recycled into any product made with fiberglass. ECO-WOLF INC. manufactures equipment that makes it possible to reuse the fibers in FRP products. This is not just grinding the fiberglass but the recovery of the fibers for reuse. The photo is of recovered fiberglass fibers 1" in length ready for manufacturing.

This photo was taken with a lens that allows a 1:1 image on the negative and shows the fibers as you would see them in your hand.

....and this is cost effective?

Seems like a lot of trouble to recover a low value material.

Yes recycled fiberglass is very cost effective.Depending on the manufacturing method used you can replace between 35% to 100% of the virgin glass or other fiber in products.

Recycling fiberglass reduces production waste and will reduce manufacturing costs and disposal costs.

This has been in place since the 1970's and has a proven track record.

why do you need the prepeg cured? I assume you use solvents to wash the resin off the fibers which I would assume would be easier if the resin was not crosslinked.

When I was repairing rotted out gas tanks from older cars and a new tank was not available I would fiberglass the unit and place it in the sun. I had a fully functional fuel tank in 20 minutes, that quickly. With out the sunlight UV it took at least a day for a full cure depending on humidity. Assuming this resin is polyester and UV sensitive this will harden it so that it can be ground or compacted for disposal. I experimented with grinding waste fiberglass (cured) and reducing it to a powder for filler in my products but did not have the time of money to go full scale. It did work as expected and finished product was lighter than the ground carbonate (limestone) that is used as a filler.