The Study about “Cullet” Generation Technique and Application for Recycling System by Using Underwater Shockwaves

The high-speed fracture mechanism of glass bottles by using underwater shockwave and the recycling process by crushing the glass bottles were discussed. The proposed crushing process of the glass bottles can decrease the recycle cost by generating small fragments called "Cullet" and by executing the washing process at the same time as the crushing process. In this study, the relations between the "Cullet" sizes and various explosive conditions, that is, the distance from explosive, the amount, the velocity and the shapes of explosive, were clarified by using beer bottles, and the influence of the serial and concentric arrangements of two or more bottles on "cullet" sizes were examined. Moreover the behaviors of the underwater shockwave were observed by framing photograph method, shadowgraph method, illumination photography method and the FEM simulation was executed in order to make clear the high speed fracture mechanism.