Mechanical properties of recycled polymer composites made from side-stream materials from different industries

This study examines the mechanical properties of thermoplastic polymer composites manufactured by utilizing different side-stream materials as fillers. Two composites were manufactured from side-stream materials from the construction industry, two were manufactured from side-stream materials from the paper industry, and one was manufactured from side-stream materials from a coating factory. The matrix polymer used in the composites originated from recycling facility. The side-stream materials were used as fillers. One composite was manufactured as a reference by using wood-fiber as the filler. The tensile properties and impact strength were tested. The materials were also observed with a scanning electron microscope. Compared to the reference material, tensile strength and modulus decreased in all cases except for the sludge from the paper industry. The sludge also improved the impact strength remarkably, as the impact strength with the stone wool and stone dust from the construction industry remained the same, while the values were weakened for the others. Scanning electron microscope images showed that powder coating waste from the coating factory increased porosity and, thus, decreased the density of the material.