Development of fabric-reinforced polymer matrix composites using bio-based components from post-consumer textile waste

Abstract

Textile waste fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites are usually reinforced with fiber, bands, fabrics, tows, woven and non-woven textiles, it is also possible to combine different types of materials in one composition. Individual textile plies of a polymer matrix component can be reinforced. This is a reason why the different textile waste are increasingly use it as a bio-based components in structural materials like sandwich structure composites with multiple layers bound in a monolith by a polymer matrix material. Also, hybrid sandwich structure composites can be manufactured, combining different textile waste plies with carbon fiber and/or glass fiber reinforcement. Having in view that a cotton fibers (i.e. denim or chambray weave) and bast fibers (i.e. jute, flax or hemp hessian fabric), as woven textile materials, destined to the textile waste fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites are highly mouldable, lightweight and tough, several possibilities for industrial applications, sustainable material for architectural and consumer products along with other custom production make this bio-based products unique. In our research, polymer matrix based composite structures were studied by using different natural-reinforcements from eco-friendly, breathable, biodegradable and recyclable post-industrial and post-consumer waste (woven fabrics made of cotton fibers – like denim textile fabric and bast fibers – like jute hessian fabric bags).