Development of Eco-Efficient Composite from Textile Waste with Polyamide Matrix

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Textile industry generates significant waste, primarily cotton and polyester.
• Developing sustainable materials from waste is crucial for environmental protection.
• Incorporating natural or synthetic fibers into polymer matrices can create novel composite materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and characterize mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties of textile waste-reinforced polyamide composites.
• To investigate the effect of silane compatibilizers on composite properties.
• To develop environmentally friendly materials from industrial textile waste.

Main Methods:

• Composite materials were produced using extrusion and injection molding.
• Textile waste content ranged from 15 wt.% to 60 wt.%.
• Silanes were employed as compatibilizers to improve fiber-matrix interaction.

Main Results:

• Silane compatibilizers significantly improved interfacial interaction, particularly at higher textile waste loadings.
• Mechanical properties showed a balanced behavior even with substantial amounts of textile waste.
• Melting temperature remained largely unaffected, while degradation temperature decreased by up to 23% with textile waste incorporation.
• Wettability increased by up to 16% with textile waste addition.
• Composites exhibited dark brown coloration due to textile waste incorporation.

Conclusions:

• Textile waste can be effectively utilized as a reinforcement in polyamide composites.
• Silane compatibilizers are beneficial for enhancing the performance of these composites, especially at high filler content.
• The developed materials offer a sustainable alternative with tunable properties and a distinct aesthetic.