Abstract
Abstract Large amounts of textile waste are generated every year and disposed of through landfill or incineration, leading to numerous environmental and social issues. In this study, waste hybrid polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/cotton fibers were used directly to reinforce high density polyethylene (HDPE) to prepare composites. In order to give full play to the fiber’s reinforcing characteristics, the PET/cotton fibers were further modified with the modifier using a novel synthesized tetraethyl orthosilicate/3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550)/polyethylene (PE)-g-MAH (MPE) hybrid (TMPE). Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that the TMPE was successfully coated on the surface of fibers. Furthermore, compared with the original and the MPE-modified fibers, the thermal stability of TMPE-modified fibers was significantly increased. SEM and mechanical test indicated that the compatibility of the modified fibers with HDPE had been significantly improved, which led to the improvement of mechanical properties. Compared with the original and MPE-modified fibers-reinforced HDPE composites, the bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of TMPE-modified fiber-reinforced HDPE composites were improved obviously by 31.7%, 25.7%, and 89.1%, respectively.
Highlights
Due to the increase of world population, the rapid change of fashion cycle, and the improvement of people’s quality of life, waste fabrics have been increasing steadily in the past few decades
Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), P-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA), and xylene were mixed at room temperature according to the mass ratio of 1:0.01:20, and the mixture was continuously stirred
The bending properties of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/cotton fibers/high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were tested by a universal tensile machine (CMT-20KN, Shenzhen)
Summary
Due to the increase of world population, the rapid change of fashion cycle, and the improvement of people’s quality of life, waste fabrics have been increasing steadily in the past few decades. The recycling and reuse of hybrid PET/cotton fabrics were mainly to separate the waste PET/cotton fabrics into different products. This may be done by depolymerizing or dissolving one component while maintaining the other. The use of solvents and the generation of hazardous wastes in the process of separation inevitably bring new environmental problems, and the fibers being separated may have incomplete separation or mechanical property deterioration caused by damages. The same modification method was used to modify the surface of hybrid PET/cotton fibers, for the purpose of improving the thermal stability of the fibers and the compatibility of the fibers with high density polyethylene (HDPE), so as to further improve the performance of the composite material and provide an optional method for reusing the hybrid PET/cotton fibers
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