Thermal removal of binder from waste glass wool intended for recycling

Abstract

Glass wool waste constitutes a large amount of waste both in the production process and after the demolition of buildings. The storage of these materials in landfills is associated with their large volume and low mass which results from their low density. Considering the principle of a life cycle assessment, the possibility of recycling this type of waste should be ensured. The basic problem with the recycling process is the removal of the binder that connects the glass wool fibres before returning it to the production process. The paper presents the results of research on the process of heat treatment of glass wool with various temperatures and heating rates. The process of sinter formation and the possibilities of avoiding their formation were analysed. For this purpose, a series of tests in the field of thermal analysis were carried out, in which the temperature ranges in which heat was released were identified. Furthermore, a series of tests were carried out on cube samples with dimensions of 20 × 20 × 20 mm in a chamber furnace. Based on the research conducted, assumptions were developed for the heat treatment process of glass wool waste, which allows the removal of organic substances and prevents the formation of sinters.