Characterization of Recycled/Virgin Polyethylene Terephthalate Composite Reinforced with Glass Fiber for Automotive Applications

Abstract

The use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a matrix for composite materials based on glass fiber reinforced virgin PET could be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to upgrade the bottle-grade recycled PET into engineering-grade PET for injection molding. In this work, a commercial virgin PET reinforced with 50%wt of glass fibers was compounded by mechanical mixing with a recycled PET, in order to minimize breakage of the glass fibers. The obtained compound, composed by 60%wt of recycled pet and 40%wt glass fiber reinforced virgin PET, was injection molded at three different mold temperatures (4, 40 and 80 °C) to analyze the effect of crystallization of the material during the production process. The results in terms of thermal and mechanical properties were compared with those obtained from recycled PET molded in the same conditions. The flexural tests and the analysis of thermal resistance showed that by adding 40%wt of glass fiber reinforced virgin PET to the recycled PET causes a noticeable improvement of crystallization kinetics and of mechanical properties with respect to that of the pure recycled PET, making it suitable for technical applications.

Application of Recycled Plastics in Automotive Industry: a short review

“…A similar issue of the application of recycled PET bottles into glass fiber reinforced composite material is also addressed by Volpe, V et al in their study titled: "Characterization of Recycled/Virgin Polyethylene Terephthalate Composite Reinforced with Glass Fiber for Automotive Applications." [22]. In 2011 Mondadori et al [23] developed composites of recycled PET and different percentages of short glass fibers (it is demonstrating increases in mechanical performances with increasing glass fiber content).…”

Optimization in the reprocessing of recycled polyamide 6 reinforced with 30 wt% Glass Fiber (PA6/GF30) using mixture design

“…[8][9][10][11] Mechanical recycling techniques start with cutting, grinding and reprocessing of wastes plastics generated after the end-of-life or during production to produce new component for a wide application. 12,13 Studies on recycling process and its effects on properties have been conducted for a large number of polymers such as polypropylene (PP), 14,15 high density polyethylene (HDPE), 16 low density polyethylene (LDPE), 16,17 polyethylene terephthalate (PET), [18][19][20] polystyrene (PS), [20][21][22] polycarbonate (PC), 20,23 and polyamide 6 (PA6). 20,24,25 PA6 is a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer that finds extensive use in various engineering applications, especially in the electronic and automobile industries due to its good mechanical properties and ease of processing.…”

“…Mechanical recycling techniques start with cutting, grinding and reprocessing of wastes plastics generated after the end‐of‐life or during production to produce new component for a wide application 12,13 . Studies on recycling process and its effects on properties have been conducted for a large number of polymers such as polypropylene (PP), 14,15 high density polyethylene (HDPE), 16 low density polyethylene (LDPE), 16,17 polyethylene terephthalate (PET), 18–20 polystyrene (PS), 20–22 polycarbonate (PC), 20,23 and polyamide 6 (PA6) 20,24,25 …”

Characterization of recycled and virgin polyethylene terephthalate composites reinforced with modified kenaf fibers for automotive application

“…In comparison, Volpe et al [ 47 ] reported the characterization of recycled/virgin PET composite reinforced with glass fiber and obtained noticeable improvement in crystallization kinetics and mechanical properties concerning pure RPET. However, synthetic glass fibers are expensive, and nonbiodegradable when compared to natural fibers, and their extensive usage can lead to severe ecological problems if not recycled properly.…”