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Enhanced Impact Strength of Recycled PET/Glass Fiber Composites

Abstract

In this paper, we report a study on the effects of different ethylene copolymers in improving the impact strength of a fiber-reinforced composite based on a recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) from post-consumer bottles. Different ethylene copolymers have been selected in order to evaluate the effects of the polar co-monomer chemical structure and content. The composite mixtures were prepared via melt extrusion, and the samples were manufactured by injection molding. Impact strength was evaluated using Izod tests, and a morphological study (FESEM) was performed. As a result, a composite with substantially improved impact properties was designed. This study demonstrates that a post-consumer PET from the municipal waste collection of plastic bottles can be successfully used as a matrix of high-performance, injection-molded composites, suitable for use in the automotive sector, among others, with no compromise in terms of mechanical requirements or thermal stability.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Marco Monti
  • Maria Teresa Scrivani
  • Irene Kociolek
  • Åge Gellein Larsen
  • Kjell Olafsen
  • Vito Lambertini

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Industry / Materials and Nanotechnology
  • Italy

Year

2021

Published in

Polymers

Volume

13

Issue

9

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository