Characterization of recycled polyethylene terephthalates and polyethylene terephthalate-nylon6 blend knitted fabrics

For environmental conservation, post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are recycled using methods ranging from mechanical recycling to various chemical recycling processes. In this study, the characterization of recycled PETs and PET-nylon6 blend knitted fabrics, and virgin PET knitted fabric, was carried out with the aim of broadening the application of recycled PET fabrics. The tensile strength values of mechanically and chemically recycled PET knitted fabrics were similar to those of virgin PET knitted fabric. The elongation of recycled PET-nylon6 blend knitted fabric was the best. Both virgin and recycled PET knitted fabrics had excellent pilling resistance. Based on the drape ratio, the recycled PET-nylon6 blend knitted fabric was more flexible than other samples. The warm/cool feeling (Q(max)), compressional and surface properties were measured using the Kawabata evaluation system for fabrics (KES-FB system). The compressional properties of mechanically recycled PET knitted fabric were similar to those of virgin PET knitted fabric. The recycled PET-nylon6 blend knitted fabric showed the smoothest appearance and coolest feeling among the four samples. Moisture regain and moisture permeability were the best in recycled PET-nylon6 blend knitted fabric. However, the wickability of mechanically recycled PET knitted fabric was better than other recycled PET knitted fabrics.