United States
 Environmental Protection
 Agency
 Office of Exploratory
 Research
 Washington DC 20460
 Research and Development
 EPA-600/S8-82-019  Oct. 1982
Project Summary
 Assessment  of  Future
 Environmental Trends and
 Problems  of  Increased  Use,
 Recycling,  and  Combustion  of
 Fiber-Reinforced,  Plastic and
 Metal Composite Materials
 Ted Lynch, Larry Davies, and Justine Alchowiak
  A mini-assessment of increased
use, recycling, and combustion  of
composite materials was performed.
The objective of  the study was  to
produce information which will assist
EPA to decide whether a  potential
environmental problem is likely  to
occur,  whether it is likely to  be a
significant problem, and  whether
research is necessary. The assessment
addressed  two major areas: (1) the
state-of-the-art of composite materials
and (2) the risks associated with their
use, recycling, and combustion. The
state-of-the-art was determined through
a literature search and by direct
contact with industry experts.  Then
chemical monographs were developed
for composites and their components
followed by an assessment of potential
environmental risks. No major health
related environmental  risks were
identified. The combustion of Kevlar®
fiber and epoxy. polyester, and  vinyl
ester resins produces combustion
products which have the potential for
health related environmental problems
under certain conditions.

  This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Office of Exploratory
Research,  Washington, DC, to an-
nounce key findings of the research
project that is fully documented in a
separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).

Introduction
  The purpose of this study for the
Office of Strategic Assessment and
Special Studies (OSASS) of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency was to
identify and define future environmental
concerns related to the increased use,
the recycling, and the combustion of
composite materials.  Based upon the
results of this effort, OSASS will make a
preliminary determination of whether
further study of a concern or potential
problem is warranted.
  First of all,  it was determined that the
materials to  be studied would include
both "reinforced  plastics" (i.e., glass-
fiber reinforced plastic) and "composites"
(i.e., materials reinforced with advanced
fibers such as graphite, Kevlar®, boron,
etc.).  Twenty-one components,  both
fiber and matrices, were investigated.
Seven materials passed original screen-
ing as the key materials for in-depth
assessment: glass fiber, graphite fiber,
silicon carbide fiber, Kevlar® fiber,
epoxy resin, polyester resin, and vinyl
ester resin. An extensive background

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and literature search was performed to
assess future  use trends  and provide
data needed to perform an assessment
of the related public health and environ-
mental risks associated with the usage
trends.  Chemical monographs  were
generated and subsequently the potential
for environmental risk was assessed.


Conclusions

  The usage trends associated with the
principal fibers and matrices investigated
were determined as shown in Tables 1
and 2.
  Due to lack of quantitative data, only a
qualitative  indication  of risk could be
made. Based upon the qualitative data
available,  the seven materials were
assigned to one of the following four
groups with the recommended follow-
up actions:

  • Group 1 includes materials ortheir
     combustion products  which have
     not been listed as hazardous by
     EPA or for which no health or non-
     health hazard has been identified
     to date; therefore,  further inves-
     tigation can be postponed in favor
     of materials in high priority groups.

  •  Group2 includes materials or their
     combustion products  which have
     been identified as presenting some
     potential  for nonhealth  related
     hazards and, therefore, further in-
     vestigation may be warranted to
     resolve the uncertainties.

  •  Group 3 includes materials ortheir
     combustion products  which have
     been identified as presenting some
     potential for health related hazards
     and, therefore, further investiga-
     tion is warranted to resolve the un-
     certainties. Follow-up actions
     might involve making a scientif-
     ically comprehensive  risk assess-
     ment and consideration for inclu-
     sion  in the  appropriate EPA  list
     and/or investigation to identify
     safe combustion practices.
  •  Group 4 includes materials or their
     combustion products that have
     been included on an existing EPA
     toxic or hazardous substances list.

  Based on the results of the assess-
ment, no major hazard was identified.
This applied to all materials with respect
Table 1.    Projected Annual Production of Major Reinforcing Fibers
                                1980 - 2000
                             (Millions of Pounds}

                                              Year
Fiber Type
Graphite
Glass
Kevlar®
Silicon carbide
whisker
Silicon carbide
filament
1980
2
880
1.2
0.002

0.0002

1990
27.6
1,200
8
1.5

0.1

2000
71.6
2,000
*
•ft

0.26

'Insufficient information to make reasonable estimate.

Table 2.    Projected Annual Production of Major Matrix Materials
                                1980 - 2000
                             (Billions of Pounds)

                                                Year
Resin Type
Polyester
Epoxy
Vinyl ester
1980
1.1
0.065
0.021
1990
1.6
0.13
0.03O
2000
2.4
0.25
0.05
to use. In the area of combustion, the
Kevlar® fiber and the organic resins
pose a potential  problem  and further
research  is required to assure that no
hazard exists.
  An analysis of the recycling options
open to the composite materials inves-
tigated indicate that the most econom-
ically and environmentally viable recy-
cling option would be burning for energy
output. The fact that  various kinds of
fiber make up a major component of the
feedstock  complicates the  combustion
process. Graphite fibers should be con-
tained because  atmospheric release
could result in electric problems in the
vicinity of the incinerator.  Glass fibers
will present slag  problems if they are
melted in the incinerator. A summary of
the ranking of  the  major  materials
studied follows:
                  Use
Combustion
Graphite fiber
Glass Fiber
Silicon carbide
fiber
Epoxy resin
Polyester resin
ViViyl ester
resin
Kevlar® fiber
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Grdup

Group
Group 2
Grouf) 1
Group 1
Group 3
Group 3
Group 3

1 Group 3
  In summary, in almost all aspects of
this study, no major hazard was identi-
fied. This holds true even though  the
relative  amounts of  composites  are
expected to grow dramatically, especially
"advanced composites." It was recom-
mended that  the  EPA continue its
investigation into environmentally safe
incineration technology applicable to
composite materials.
   Ted Lynch, Larry Davies, and Justine Alchowiak are with Versar, Inc., Springfield,
     VA 22151.
   George Provenzano is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
   The complete report, entitled "Assessment of Future Environmental Trends and
     Problems of Increased Use, Recycling, and Combustion of Fiber-Reinforced,
     Plastic and Metal Composite Materials," (Order No. PB 82-255 514; Cost:
     $21.00, subject to change) will be available only from:
           National Technical Information Service
           5285 Port Royal Road
           Springfield, VA22161
           Telephone: 703-487-4650
   The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
           Office of Exploratory Research (RD-675)
           U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
           Washington, DC 20460
                                                                                     , U.8 OOVERWIEHTPRINT1NOOFFICE: 1MS-559-OI7/0844

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