Fabrication and performance evaluation of waste cotton and polyester fiber-reinforced green composites for building and construction applications

This research reports thermoset composites reinforced with cotton and polyester fibers (recovered from pre-consumer textile waste). The carded web of cotton and polyester fibers and epoxy resin were used to develop the composites using the compression molding technique. The polyester/epoxy composites show average tensile and impact strength higher than cotton/epoxy composites. However, cotton/epoxy composites show average flexural strength higher than polyester/epoxy composites. The bearing strength in a pinned joint for polyester/epoxy composites is higher than cotton/epoxy composites. The equilibrium water content of polyester/epoxy composites was found much less than the corresponding cotton/epoxy composite. The cotton/epoxy and polyester/epoxy composites are thermally stable enough.

Automated summary

The research found that thermoset composites reinforced with cotton and polyester fibers have different performance characteristics, with polyester/epoxy composites showing higher tensile and impact strength, while cotton/epoxy composites exhibit higher flexural strength. Additionally, the bearing strength in a pinned joint is higher for polyester/epoxy composites compared to cotton/epoxy composites. Moreover, the equilibrium water content of polyester/epoxy composites is significantly less than that of cotton/epoxy composites, and both types of composites are thermally stable.