Upcycling of PET/PVCmesh fabrics

In this project, a recycling strategy for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) mesh fabrics is developed while avoiding melting of the PET fibres. Thermal reprocessing of this polyester is usually associated with degradation of the polymer chains as a result of thermal damage, acting shear forces and hydrolytic chain scission. To avoid this polymer damage, which occurs in the course of re-granulation, the use of PET fibres as reinforcement in plastics which are distinguished by significantly lower melting temperatures is being tested. The requirements for achieving high strengths and thus for the success of this possible application are (i) the separation of the fabric into individual fibres while maintaining high fibre lengths, (ii) enabling continuous feeding into the production machine and (iii) homogeneous dispersion of the fibres in the plastic matrix. Due to the minimum fibre lengths necessary to achieve high mechanical strengths, the separation of the fibres by means of a heating-cooling mixer is tested with variation of the settings and different fabric concentrations between 10 and 40%. Profile extrusion of the three blends into strip profiles will be tested using the NCT 55 conical co-rotating production extruder. To evaluate this application possibility, the bending properties as well as the Charpy impact strength will be determined on the profiles.