THE BIODEGRADATION OF SPENT PRE-PREG MATERIALS

THERMOSET RESIN IMPREGNATED YARNS, FABRICS AND TAPES (PREPREGS) COMPRISE A SIGNIFICANT FRACTION OF THE MATERIALS USED IN THE FABRICATION OF CURRENT AND DEVELOPING AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. TWO PROBLEMS EXIST, HOWEVER, WITH THE PREPREG MATERIALS. THESE MATERIALS HAVE ONLY A SIX-MONTH SHELF LIFE AND THERE CAN BE RESIDUAL OR NON-SPEC WASTE MATERIALS GENERATED. THE SPENT PREPREG WASTES, NOW REPORTED TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSAFE, MAY INCLUDE UNCURED RESIN AND REJECTS AT ALL STEPS OF THE FABRICATION PROCESS. CURRENT DISPOSAL METHODS SUCH AS INCENERATION, AUTOCLAVING OR LANDFILLING WILL SOON LACK EPA ACCEPTANCE DUE TO THE PRODUCTION OF POISONOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS. IN RESPONSE TO THIS TOXIC WASTE PROBLEM, TECHNICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (TRA) PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A REGULATED AND CONTAINED BIODEGRADATION PROCESS WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THE REPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH HAZARDS CAUSED BY PRESENT DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. PRELIMINARY WORK HAS SHOWN THAT TRA'S BIODEGRADING BACTERIA AND/OR FUNGI HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DEGRADE THE SPENT PREPREG THERMOSET RESINS. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE SEPARATED FIBERS TO BE RECYCLED OR SAFELY LANDFILLED.