skip to main content


Search for: All records

Award ID contains: 1827364

Note: When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
What is a DOI Number?

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.

  1. This study evaluated the mechanical, thermal, water soak, and rheological properties of mixed plastic waste (MPW) in combination with fibers derived from residual hops bines and coupling agents or dicumyl peroxide (DCP) to form composite materials. Hop bines were pulped to afford individual hop fibers (HF) in 45% yield with 78% carbohydrate content. The MPW comprised mainly of PET, paper, PE and PEVA. Tensile moduli and strength of the formulations ranged between 1.1 and 2.0 GPa and 11 and 14 MPa, respectively. The addition of hops fiber (HF) improved the tensile modulus of the formulations by 40%. Tensile strength was improved by the addition of coupling agents by 11% and this was supported by determining the adhesion factor by dynamic mechanical analysis. However, the addition of DCP resulted in a reduction of tensile properties. The melt properties of the formulations showed shear thinning behavior and followed the power-law model. The water absorption tests for most of the MPW formulations gave an 11% weight gain over 83 d except for the DCP treated composites (14–16%). The fabricated composites can be used in non-structural applications such as (garden trim, siding, pavers, etc.). 
    more » « less
  2. null (Ed.)
  3. null (Ed.)
  4. null (Ed.)
  5. null (Ed.)
    The amount of waste generation has been increasing with a significant amount being landfilled. These non-recyclable wastes contain large number of fiber and plastic wastes which can be treated with thermal processes to turn them into energy sources since they have high calorific values, are abundant and usually tipping fees are paid to handle them. This paper studied the torrefaction of non-recyclable paper (fiber) wastes, mixed plastic wastes (MPW) and their blends at different ratios in the temperature range of 250–400°C through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The solid residues after the experiments were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Significant synergy between fiber and MPW were observed at the range 250–300°C, showing both increase in the reaction rate as well as the overall mass loss. At 250°C, the maximum mass loss rate was more than two times higher and the mass loss at the end of the experiments were also much higher compared to the expected results. In addition, synergy was weakened with an increase of temperature, disappearing at 400°C. The existence of such interactions between fiber and plastic wastes indicates that the natural energy barriers during the individual torrefaction in paper waste or plastic waste could be bypassed, and the torrefaction of fiber and plastic blend can be achieved at lower temperatures and/or shorter residence times. The MPW and fiber wastes were also compounded by extrusion (to produce pellets) at 220°C with different blend ratios. The fiber-MPW pellets from extrusion were characterized by IR spectroscopy, rheology, thermal analysis and flexural properties and showed significant chemical changes from the non-extruded blends at the same ratios. From IR characterization, it was found that there was significant increase in hydroxyl (OH) group on account of the carbonyl (C  O) and etheric (C-O-C) groups. The interaction between paper and MPW can be attributed to the plastic polymers acting as a hydrogen donor during the reactive extrusion process. Synergistic effects were also found from mechanical and rheological properties. 
    more » « less