An Investigation into the Performance Viability of Recycled Polyester from Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (R-PET)

Abstract

The environmental impact of plastics has been made increasing concerns in recent years. Post-consumer plastic bottles created an environmental crisis. Polyester is a very versatile fibre material that has been widely used in the textile and fashion industry. However recycled polyester (R-PET)is not yet widely available at a commercial mass-market scale. Also, there is limited academic literature available on the performance characteristics of R-PET in textile form. This study attempts to compile a rounded evaluation of R-PET textiles derived from post-consumer plastic bottles, based on some objective tests related mainly to fabric mechanical properties. Tested samples are from two equivalent fabrics that were developed in this study -one is made of R-PET and the other the virginal polyester (V-PET). R-PET fabric showed very positive results in the tensile strength, abrasion resistance that provided promising potential to be used as a new feedstock for technical textiles, as well as fashion clothing. This will reduce waste to landfill or oceans. It can also reduce the use of new V-PET made of crude oils and reduce pollution and environmental impact.

Environmentally Friendly Approach to the Reduction of Microplastics during Domestic Washing: Prospects for Machine Vision in Microplastics Reduction

“…For fiber-to-fiber recycling, recycled PET (i.e., chemical recycling; from monomeric form) added to textiles increases their tensile strength and abrasion resistance, which is an interesting observation [ 109 ]. The textile recycling technologies that are now accessible face a significant obstacle in the form of the various blending of materials, coatings, dyes, etc [ 110 ]. In order to increase recovery and conversion efficiency and to lessen the effects on the characteristics and quality of the materials, additional development is also needed in the area of the chemical recycling of plastic polymers [ 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ].…”

Modeling of Material Characteristics of Conventional Synthetic Fabrics

“…In 2018, polyester fabrics constituted nearly 52% of all the manufactured fabrics, which at that time amounted to 52 million tons of polyester [2,3]; cotton comes second, at slightly above 24% of total manufacturing, followed by polyamide fabrics 5% and other fabrics (including synthetic) at approximately 19%. Growing production increases the amount of waste generated [4]. In 2008, recycled strands amounted for 8% of total production, whereas in 2018, it rises to 13% [2,3].…”