Work

Quantitative Evaluation of Composite Recyclability Using Visible-Light Microscopy and Image Processing Techniques

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Composites are essential materials in a wide range of industrial and medical applications due to their unique functional properties. One of the main issues of composites arises at their end-of-life stage, especially in terms of the recyclability process and its quantitative evaluation. In this study, we present a quantitative methodology for assessing the quality of composite recycling, using a paraffin-based microcomposite with the addition of tungsten particles (at one concentration 50 wt.%) as an example. Our approach combines visible-light microscopy with digital image processing techniques to obtain quantitative metrics related to recycling efficiency. The tools utilized-recognized as relatively common and uncomplicated for use in various scientific fields-have shown that the value of average particle density significantly decreased from a primary value of 43.30% to 8.30%. Consequently, the presented results confirm the usefulness of the method for the quantitative assessment of the quality of the recycling process.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18194519

Authors: Róża Dzierżak, Jolanta Sobczak, Gaweł Żyła, Jacek Fal

Institutions: Lublin University of Technology, Rzeszów University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Polymer crystallization and properties

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137