Rasheed Rizwan, Tahir Fizza, Geng Shuaishuai, Batool Fizza, Afzaal Muhammad, Su Yuehong
Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University Lahore, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211106, China.
Heliyon. 2025 Jan 2;11(1):e41655. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41655. eCollection 2025 Jan 15.
The demand for engineered composites particularly fiberglass reinforced polymers (FRP) is gaining momentum. The manufacturing of virgin input-resins for these composites involves the use of certain materials which poses serious environmental implication. This study has exclusively applied and investigated the Grey Forecasting model for management of FRP waste in developing countries to minimize the virgin inputs and likely environmental impacts. Various recyclate-based solutions are developed, experimented and analyzed. Technoeconomic analytics projected via Grey Forecasting depicted that indigenously developed solutions of reuse and recycling of FRP waste driven via mechanical recycling are sustainable. As such a trial project in Pakistan has initiated a viable benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.27 and a payback period of 26 months. Experiments using FRP recyclate-based inputs were successful in improving the filler, value, and strength of the product. As a result, consumer prices were reduced by 35 % and 21 % respectively. The recyclate material saved 15 % of the manufacturing cost as compared to the product manufactured by 100 % virgin inputs. Mechanical recycling proved as a safe and viable method that reduced the hazardous inputs by 25-28 % during manufacturing and minimizing the burden on landfills. Likewise, the mixing step focuses on eliminating the use of virgin materials and potentially harmful processes as this is where thermoset resins and glass-fibers are blended together to create the composite material. This comprehensive analysis provides a holistic perspective on policy interventions to achieve cost-effective recyclate management.
对工程复合材料尤其是玻璃纤维增强聚合物（FRP）的需求正在增长。这些复合材料原始输入树脂的制造涉及使用某些对环境有严重影响的材料。本研究专门应用并研究了灰色预测模型，用于发展中国家的FRP废物管理，以尽量减少原始投入和可能的环境影响。开发、试验并分析了各种基于回收物的解决方案。通过灰色预测进行的技术经济分析表明，通过机械回收驱动的FRP废物本地开发的再利用和回收解决方案是可持续的。因此，巴基斯坦的一个试验项目启动了一个可行的效益成本比（BCR）为1.27，投资回收期为26个月。使用基于FRP回收物的输入进行的实验成功地提高了产品的填料、价值和强度。结果，消费价格分别降低了35%和21%。与100%原始输入制造的产品相比，回收材料节省了15%的制造成本。机械回收被证明是一种安全可行的方法，在制造过程中将有害输入减少了25%-28%，并减轻了垃圾填埋场的负担。同样，混合步骤侧重于消除原始材料的使用和潜在有害的过程，因为在这个步骤中热固性树脂和玻璃纤维被混合在一起以制造复合材料。这种全面分析为实现具有成本效益的回收物管理的政策干预提供了一个整体视角。
