Upcycling polyethylene terephthalate wastes for enhancing the performance of polyester from rice straw polyol in HDPE-composites

Abstract

Upscaling the utilization of polymer wastes together with the valorization of undesirable waste rice straw (RS) will minimize the environmental impact of waste disposal by traditional tools. This present work assesses the utilization of polyethylene terephthalate wastes in enhancing the production of polyester-(high density polyethylene) HDPE from Rice straw polyol composites. In this respect, the polyester from rice straw polyol in hybrid with glycolysis polyethylene terephthalate wastes (Gly-WPET) was assessed in comparison with that resulted from RS-polyol, using FTIR, non-isothermal analysis, and mechanical tests. The data showed the positive role of Gly-WPET in hybrid with RS-polyol in production polyester with high thermal stability and mechanical properties. It provided an increase in activation energy of degradation, elongation, Young's Modulus, and modulus of toughness from 184.5 to 1201 kJ/mole, from 4.7 to 9.8%, from 47.5 to 66.5 MPa, and from ~ 4.0 to 23 J/m3, respectively. This behavior was reflected in the properties of HDPE-polyester polyol (PEPO) composites, especially in improving elongation (from 55.4 to 72%). These promising data persuade us to recommend the influential role of Gly-WPET in using PEPO from liquefied RS as a plasticizer.