Reusing polyester/cotton blend fabrics for composites

This paper demonstrates a unique approach of developing composites from used polyester/cotton blend fabrics without the need of plasticizers or additional matrix or reinforcing materials. Considerable amounts of PET/cotton blend fabrics are disposed every year due to the technical challenge and/or economical viability of recycling PET from PET/cotton fabrics. The feasibility of compression molding PET/cotton fabrics into composites was studied. The influences of plasticizers on mechanical properties of composites were investigated. PET/cotton composites without plasticizers provided 153% higher modulus of elasticity, 36% higher Young's modulus, similar impact resistance but 17% lower flexural strength and 44% lower tensile strength compared to that of PET matrix. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.