Polymer composite developed from discarded carpet for light weight structural applications: Development and Mechanical analysis

Abstract

Carpets are the three-dimensional product used as a floor covering in homes, offices, commercial centers, decorative purposes, etc. The average life span of the carpet is four to seven years and after that, it becomes solid waste. The discarded carpets are causing a significant hazardous effect on the environment, climate, soil, and various health issues. To overcome the increasing carpet waste, the re-utilization of carpet is essentially desired. This article focuses on the development of polymer composites developed from discarded nylon carpets for lightweight applications. A modified technique of Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) was used to fabricate epoxy composites. The tensile and flexural tests evaluated the mechanical performance of the proposed composite. The modified composite is manufactured in two different configurations, namely, face- back-to-back-face (FBBF) and back- face to face- back (BFFB) with the help of the VARTM setup. The result demonstrated that the fabricated BFFB composite has a higher strength. The high-resolution microscopy test of the developed samples shows the feasibility of the composites produced from discarded carpet for lightweight functions. An attempt has been made to resue the waste for the fabrication of cost-effective products.