Mechanical properties of glass and jute fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with waste PET needle-punched carpet matrix

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to address the environmental impact of nondegradable synthetic materials by promoting their reuse. Specifically, it investigates the feasibility of using polyester needle felt carpet waste as the matrix for thermoplastic composites reinforced with glass and jute fibers at various fiber contents (20, 30 and 40 Wt. %).

Design/methodology/approach

The research used both glued and unglued carpet wastes to examine the effect of adhesive impurities on composite properties. The mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated through tensile, bending and Izod impact tests. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructural effects of adhesive impurities on the fiber/matrix interface.

Findings

The results showed that unglued carpet composites outperformed glued carpet composites, exhibiting 51% greater tensile strength, 294% higher bending strength and 293% superior impact strength on average. The mechanical properties of the unglued carpet composites generally improved with increasing fiber content. In contrast, glued carpet composites demonstrated optimal performance at specific fiber contents within the studied range. Microscopic analysis revealed that adhesive impurities in the glued composites caused fiber/matrix bond disruption and delamination under load.

Originality/value

This study highlights the potential of recycling polyester needle felt carpet waste into high-performance thermoplastic composites. It underscores the significant impact of adhesive impurities on the mechanical properties of these composites and provides insight into optimizing fiber content for improved material performance.

Graphical abstarct

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Citation

Nematollahi, M., Ahmadi, M.S. and Fattahi, S. (2024), "Mechanical properties of glass and jute fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with waste PET needle-punched carpet matrix", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-07-2024-0374