Evaluation of Unevenness and Tensile Properties of Open-End Yarns Produced by Recycled Acrylic-Based Textile Wastes from Different Sources

Abstract

Abstract The classification of acrylic textile wastes based on source is important, because each waste type from different sources greatly affects product quality. This study primarily deals with recycled acrylic fibers obtained from three categories of acrylic-based tops, yarn, and fabric waste through a mechanical recycling method of garneting. With the use of recycled acrylic fiber types as 100 % ratio and in blends with recycled cotton and virgin polyester fibers, open-end yarns in two twist coefficients were produced, and then the effects of these selected materials and twist coefficient on the unevenness (CVm) and tensile properties of the yarns were discussed. The 100 % recycled acrylic yarn type produced from the tops waste type revealed the lowest CVm results and the highest tenacity and breaking elongation results. The blending of the virgin polyester fiber with the recycled acrylic fiber types improved the tenacity results. It can be concluded that tops, yarn, and fabric acrylic wastes have potential to be used as sustainable and low-cost sources of raw material in the production of open yarns of acceptable quality.