Produced demonstrators for fibre reinforced composites

The airlay nonwovens from unravelled textile waste show promising results and their use in different applications is now considered. The formulation of fibre reinforced composites from precision-cut textile waste fibres was further adjusted with the addition of textile fibres and comptabilizers. First demonstrator containing post-production mattress textile waste was produced and the formulation is now undergoing further optimisation.

The airlay nonwovens produced from unravelled mattress textile waste during the previous period, were now thermopressed and laminated by PROCOTEX in cooperation with an industrial partner. ICT FRAUNHOFER and CENTEXBEL have investigated the burning behaviour and the thermal and acoustic insulation properties of these materials.

The first results were very promising but depending on the application further improvements can be considered. PROCOTEX is currently prospecting the market with the produced demonstrators and collecting data for life cycle assessment.

The production of nonwovens from the long fibre fraction of bulky textile waste.

At CENTEXBEL the formulation of the fibre reinforced composites (FRC) from the precision-cut textile waste fibres was further adjusted. Thanks to the addition of textile fibres, materials with higher stiffness and impact resistance were obtained. The application of compatibilizers also resulted in increased tensile, fracture and flexural strength. An ice bucket containing post-production mattress textile waste fibres from DELAX was produced as a first demonstrator.

Currently the FRC formulation is being further optimised for different types of fibres and suitable applications are being selected in function of the final FRC properties. Moreover, the plastic fraction will be replaced by one of the high quality recycled polyolefin grades produced by VANHEEDE.

Mechanical properties of the fibre reinforced composites with respect to virgin PP

URBANREC

New approaches for the valorisation of URBAN bulky waste into high added value RECycled products