Mechanical and Durability Characteristics of Particulate-Filled Recycled Thermoplastic Composites (RTCs): A...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Engineering

Background:

• Over 350 million tonnes of thermoplastic waste are generated annually, with significant landfilling and mismanagement.
• Particulate-filled recycled thermoplastic composites (RTCs) present a promising strategy for waste valorization in civil and industrial sectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the physical, mechanical, and durability performance of RTCs.
• To analyze the influence of filler type, content, and interfacial compatibility on RTC properties.
• To identify challenges and future research directions for sustainable RTC development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of studies on recycled thermoplastic composites.
• Analysis of data on filler types (organic/inorganic), content, and interfacial effects.
• Evaluation of durability performance under environmental stressors (water, thermal, UV).

Main Results:

• Incorporating fillers increases density (10-45%), moduli (30-120%), and thermal stability (up to 40%).
• Strength and ductility may decrease (15-50%) due to poor filler-matrix adhesion.
• Filler addition reduces water absorption and UV degradation (20-60%).

Conclusions:

• RTCs show potential for waste reuse, with significant improvements in certain properties.
• Optimizing interfacial bonding and long-term performance modeling are key challenges.
• Further research is needed for scalability and advanced applications in civil infrastructure.