Experimental investigation of recycled glass-fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane : Analysis of tensile properties

With the growing number of glass-fiber reinforced composite waste generated each year, the issue of composite waste management becomes recognizable. Mechanical recycling is a well-investigated recycling pathway. Tensile Testing is one of the fundamental investigative tools used in materials’ sciences. It can be used to compare the recycled material with the virgin. The aim of this thesis work is to investigate the mechanical properties of recycled glass-fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane. Effect of drying of the composite prior to manufacturing was investigated. Comparison was made with the virgin composite. Material’s behavior under manufacturing and processing conditions was investigated. In total, four material groups were formulated, manufactured, and tested: dried recycled composite, undried composite, recycled composite with 12.5% virgin composite by weight, and virgin composite. Specimens were tested for Tensile Strength and Percent Elongation at Break. Dried and Undried composite showed a loss of 22 % and 27.3 % of Tensile Strength. Similarly, Dried and Undried composite showed a loss of 9.17 % and 16.7 % in Percent Elongation at Break. Compounded composite showed a loss of 6.3 % if Tensile strength and a gain of 7.6 % in Percent Elongation at Break. Mechanical recycling appears to result in the loss of mechanical properties in recycled composite. Compounding the recycled composite with the virgin results in greater retention of Tensile Strength and a minor gain in Percent Elongation at Break. Based on the findings, it cannot be concluded that drying the recycled composite improves the retention of mechanical propertie