Production by Pultrusion and Mechanical Characterization of Fibre Reinforced Composites Made with Recycled PET Matrix
摘要
Thermosetting matrix composites are widely used in various industries due to their strong mechanical properties; however, they pose significant environmental challenges, including difficult recyclability, harmful gas emissions during curing, and potential health hazards for operators. Additionally, they exhibit lower ductility and toughness compared to thermoplastic composites, which limits their applications in certain structural scenarios. In contrast, thermoplastic composites, despite their higher viscosity during processing, offer several advantages such as recyclability, cleaner work environments, reduced emissions, longer shelf life, and improved material availability, making them a more sustainable alternative. This study focuses on producing thermoplastic matrix prepregs in tape form by immersing carbon and glass fibers in molten polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET. The resulting prepregs were processed using pultrusion, a continuous manufacturing technique that allows for the production of structural profiles with consistent cross-sections. To evaluate material quality and performance, mechanical tests such as tensile and flexural tests were conducted, with results compared to micromechanical model predictions and fiber content calculations derived from calcination tests. The findings highlight the potential of thermoplastic composites as an environmentally friendly and high-performance alternative to thermosetting composites, supporting their broader application in structural engineering and sustainable material development.