Recyclage des pièces en composite polyester en fibres de verre de grandes dimensions par laminage

The composite materials recycling is facing many problems. The objective of this study is to find an alternative process to current recycling solutions for thermosetting composites, particularly for big parts like boats or wind turbine blades. A new method adapted to the recycling of unsaturated polyester glass fibers reinforced composite is studied in this work: the rolling at a temperature at which the mechanical properties of the resin are significantly modified. It is a thermomechanical process. At first, the convenient thermomechanical and tribological characterizations of the chosen unsaturated polyester glass fibers composite and its matrix are carried out under different conditions. They were used to set the parameters and the conditions of this process adapted to the composite and the resin. Secondly, the rolling is modeled mechanically by the slice method using the Bland & Ford and the hydrodynamic models. A finite element model is compared to the analytical calculations. The thermal model is calculated using a finite difference method. Finally, the experimental results of the rolling of the composite, at the convenient temperature, are compared to the results given by the mechanical and thermal models. It was found that the rolling allows forming the thermoset composite or its matrix. However, reducing the thickness of the composite was not possible.