Phono-Absorbent Behavior of New Fiberglass Plates from Mixed Plastic Material Wastes

Circular economy and waste recycling are a priority domain in European policies. In the case of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), waste storage is prohibited; therefore, alternative options are encouraged: thermal, chemical, or mechanical recycling and comprehensive recovery. If thermal and chemical recycling are more suitable for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), due to the higher market value obtained after recycling; for GFRP, the most adequate approach is mechanical recovery, due to several reasons: higher added value, reduced costs and loop closing, according to the circular economy. In this work, we propose an energy-saving thermo-mechanical recycling method for the mixed plastic wastes, to obtain composite material plates. The method is economically efficient, and so far, it is the best for this type of waste, considering the cost–benefit ratio. The sound absorption behavior of the obtained plates was analyzed to define the possibility of using them for the reduction of the environmental noise. The data obtained was analyzed, and the results were compared with the characteristics of other materials which could be replaced by this new material.