Thermal and Physical Properties of Hybrid Composites Made from Used PET Bottles and Date Palm Fibers Filled with Unsaturated Polyester

Tahir Habila; Yazid Meftah; Samira Maou

doi:10.22146/ajche.82419

Thermal and Physical Properties of Hybrid Composites Made from Used PET Bottles and Date Palm Fibers Filled with Unsaturated Polyester

https://doi.org/10.22146/ajche.82419

Tahir Habila⁽¹⁾, Yazid Meftah^(2*), Samira Maou⁽³⁾

(1) Ecole Normale Supérieure de Boussaada, Boussaada 28201, Algeria
(2) Ecole Normale Supérieure de Boussaada, Boussaada 28201, Algeria
(3) Département de Chimie, Université Hassiba Ben Bouali de Chlef, Chlef 02180, Algeria
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Recycling polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) bottles is a sustainable solution for reducing the accumulation of r-PET in landfills. The primary goal of this study is to determine the viability of combining fibers derived from waste r-PET bottles (r-PET) and date palm fibers (DPF) to produce hybrid unsaturated polyester (UP)-based composites. Hand lay-up was used to make the UP/r-PET/DPF composites, which had 10%, 20%, and 30% r-PET and date palm fibers by weight, with equal weights of the two. Recycled r-PET bottles and date palm leaflets were cut into 5–10 mm lengths and incorporated into the UP matrix. The composites were characterized by their flexural, morphological, thermal, dynamical mechanical, and water absorption characteristics. The thermal behavior of the composites improved when r-PET and DPF were added at high temperatures. However, the composites' flexural strength and storage modulus decreased due to their non-uniform distribution, which made it hard for the fillers to adhere to the UP matrix. SEM micrographs of the composite's fracture surfaces showed that the amount of agglomeration eventually increased as the filler loading increased. Lastly, the composites showed significant resistance to water absorption with lower proportions of DPF and r-PET fibers.

Keywords

Date Palm Tree Fiber; Unsaturated Polyester; Recycled r-PET

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ahlawat, V., Kajal, S., and Parinam, A., 2019. “Experimental analysis of tensile, flexural, and tribological properties of walnut shell powder/polyester composites.” Euro-Mediterranean J. Environ. Integr. 4. No. 1.

Almi, K., Benchabane, A., Lakel, S., and Kriker, A., 2015. “Potential utilization of date palm wood as composite reinforcement.” J. Reinf. Plast. Compos. 34, 1231–1240.

Bourmaud, A., Dhakal, H., Habrant, A., Padovani, J., Siniscalco, D., Ramage, M.H., Beaugrand, J., and Shah, D.U., 2017. “Exploring the potential of waste leaf sheath date palm fibres for composite reinforcement through a structural and mechanical analysis.” Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 103, 292–303.

Chauhan, V., Kärki, T., and Varis, J., 2019. “Review of natural fiber-reinforced engineering plastic composites, their applications in the transportation sector and processing techniques.” J. Thermoplast. Compos. Mater. , 35(8), 1169-1209.

Costa, C.S.M.F., Fonseca, A.C., Moniz, J., Godinho, M., Serra, A.C., and Coelho, J.F.J., 2016. “Soybean and coconut oil based unsaturated polyester resins: Thermomechanical characterization.” Ind. Crops Prod. 85, 403–411.

da Luz, F.S., Candido, V.S., da Silva, A.C.R., and Monteiro, S.N., 2018. “Thermal Behavior of Polyester Composites Reinforced with Green Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber.” Jom 70, 1965–1971.

Dehas, W., Guessoum, M., Douibi, A., Jofre-Reche, J.A., and Martin-Martinez, J.M., 2018. “Thermal, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites.” Polym. Compos. 39, 1682–1693.

Gupta, M.K., and Srivastava, R.K., 2016. “Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Fibers-Reinforced Polymer Composite: A Review.” Polym. - Plast. Technol. Eng. 55, 626–642.

Ikladious, N.E., Shukry, N., El-Kalyoubi, S.F., Asaad, J.N., Mansour, S.H., Tawfik, S.Y., and Abou-Zeid, R.E., 2019. “Eco-friendly composites based on peanut shell powder / unsaturated polyester resin.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part L J. Mater. Des. Appl. 233, 955–964.

Jayamani, E., Heng, S.K., Sean, L.T., and Bakri, M.K. Bin, 2018. “Mechanical properties of chicken feather reinforced unsaturated polyester composites.” Key Eng. Mater. 775 KEM, 3–6.

Maou, S., Meftah, Y., Grohens, Y., and Kervoelen, A., 2023a. “The effects of surface modified date-palm fiber fillers upon the thermo-physical performances of high density polyethylene-polyvinyl chloride blend with maleic anhydride as a grafting agent” 1–15.

Maou, S., Meftah, Y., and Meghezzi, A., 2023b. “Synergistic effects of metal stearate, calcium carbonate, and recycled polyethylene on thermo-mechanical behavior of polyvinylchloride.” Polyolefins J. 10, 1–11.

Maou, S., Meghezzi, A., Grohens, Y., Meftah, Y., Kervoelen, A., and Magueresse, A., 2021. “Effect of various chemical modifications of date palm fibers (DPFs) on the thermo-physical properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)–high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites.” Ind. Crops Prod. 171, 113974.

Maou, S., Meghezzi, A., Nebbache, N., and Meftah, Y., 2019. “Mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/low-density polyethylene composites filled with date palm leaf fiber.” J. Vinyl Addit. Technol. 25. , E88-E93.

Meftah, Y., Tayefi, M., Fellouh, F., Chouieur, H., Maou, S., and Meghezzi, A., 2020. “Influence of Alkali Treatment and Dune Sand Content on the Properties of Date Palm Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Hybrid Composites.” Rev. des Compos. des matériaux avancés, 30, 161–167.

Montanes, N., Quiles-Carrillo, L., Ferrandiz, S., Fenollar, O., and Boronat, T., 2019. “Effects of Lignocellulosic Fillers from Waste Thyme on Melt Flow Behavior and Processability of Wood Plastic Composites (WPC) with Biobased Poly(ethylene) by Injection Molding.” J. Polym. Environ. 27, 747–756.

Nuzaimah, M., Sapuan, S.M., Nadlene, R., and Jawaid, M., 2019. “Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyester Composites Filled with Waste Rubber Glove Crumbs.” Fibers Polym. 20, 1290–1300.

Ramesh, M., Palanikumar, K., and Reddy, K.H., 2013. “Mechanical property evaluation of sisal-jute-glass fiber reinforced polyester composites.” Compos. Part B Eng. 48, 1–9.

Sapuan, S.M., Aulia, H.S., Ilyas, R.A., Atiqah, A., Dele-Afolabi, T.T., Nurazzi, M.N., Supian, A.B.M., and Atikah, M.S.N., 2020. “Mechanical properties of longitudinal basalt/woven-glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester-resin hybrid composites.” Polymers (Basel). 12, 1–14.

Sawpan, M.A., Pickering, K.L., and Fernyhough, A., 2012. “Flexural properties of hemp fibre reinforced polylactide and unsaturated polyester composites.” Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 43, 519–526.

Tao, L., Sun, Z., Min, W., Ou, H., Qi, L., and Yu, M., 2020. “Improving the toughness of thermosetting epoxy resins: Via blending triblock copolymers.” RSC Adv. 10, 1603–1612.

Várdai, R., Lummerstorfer, T., Pretschuh, C., Jerabek, M., Gahleitner, M., Pukánszky, B., and Renner, K., 2019. “Impact modification of PP/wood composites: A new approach using hybrid fibers.” Express Polym. Lett. 13, 223–234.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ajche.82419