Novel Recycling Process for Aircraft Transparencies

A novel tertiary recycling process is proposed for investigation as an economical means for reclaiming scrap aircraft transparency materials. Early development work has shown that this process can convert a wide variety of polymers and composites into low molecular weight hydrocarbons at temperatures below 200 C. The hydrocarbons produced can then be reused as chemicals, fuels, or monomers. Metal, glass, and filler impurities are separated from the hydrocarbons during the process and can be reclaimed or landfilled. A related technology has been demonstrated on a large scale (100 tons/day) for recycling used tires. For application to transparency materials, conversion products of representative scrap transparencies will be determined using a continuous feed laboratory-scale reactor, product resale markets will be identified, and the economics of a large-scale tertiary recycling operation will be estimated. Results from the Phase I program will provide the basis for design and fabrication of a large-scale demonstration system in Phase II and commercial systems in Phase III.