Recycled synthetic fibres

There are fundamentally three questions that should be asked about recycled textiles what is the origin of the waste, what is the method of converting waste to chips and how do you know the product is produced from recycled 

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The work reported on in this paper was in response to an industry problem on the removal of agglomerated steel and synthetic fibres from the saleable rubber crumb as part of an automotive tyre recycling plant. 

The use of a vertical venturi separator was successfully used to clean steel and synthetic fibres from rubber crumb produced from an automotive tyre recycling plant. The major advantage of the venturi separator was an inherent positive feedback loop that exists at the throat. If more material was introduced to the throat then a higher velocity was generated at the throat to help retain particles (dependant upon air mover characteristics). The more conventional cleaning units observed had a negative feedback inherent in their design, with an increased local load of product the air velocity would... 

CMC and water dispensible polyester based size materials are also used for sizing of synthetic fibre materials. They are insoluble in acidic form and soluble in the presence of dilute alkali and can be removed from the fabric at about 60 C. They are, however, precipitated in presence of metal ions in the washing bath and hence the addition of chelating agent is recommended to nullify its effect. Synthetic detergents of either anionic or non-ionic type may be used to remove the polyester size from the fabric. The CMC can be reclaimed, recycled and reapplied from other size material. 

This process is used to recycle fabrics made from natural fibres such as cotton and wool as well as synthetic fibres including polyesters, nylons and blended fibres. Hawley (2006) describes the mechanical processing technique used in facilities in Prato, Italy, where acrylic textiles are shredded down to fibre. In hw example, acrylic garments were sorted and cut up, mechanically shredded to fibre, and then re-spun into acrylic yam for weaving into blanketing (Hawley, 2006). 

Abstract This chapter will discuss advances in the properties, production and manufacturing techniques of the advanced synthetic fibre/polymer composite materials that are utilised in the manufacture of machines that produce sustainable energy. Furthermore, it will suggest methods for the repair, maintenance and recycling of advanced polymer composite wind turbine blades. 

However, even if our contemporary society tends to dispose of end-of-life materials, and even if synthetic fibres seem to provide an abundance of textile raw materials, textile recycling remains a current necessity. The ways of recycling... 

AirDye s process begins with using synthetic fibres for its material, which can be made from recycled PET bottles. Using disperse dyes that are applied to a paper carrier, AirDye uses heat to transfer the dyes from the paper to the surface of the textiles, coloring it at the molecular level. All paper used is recycled and dyes are inert, meaning that they can go back to their original state and can be reused. 

Within this area, nonwovens find application as internal product components, such as support and cover materials for mattresses as well foam replacements. As discussed, bonded polyester wadding (used in low stress applications), thermally bonded nonwovens, and nonwovens laminated with woven or knitted fabrics to provide covers with high dimensional stability are used in the production of foam-backed mattresses for upholstery as support and cover materials. Needled waddings and paddings are incorporated into furniture as insulation and comfort layers. Fibres used for such applications include recycled natural and synthetic fibres obtained from waste clothing, bast fibres, cotton, and virgin synthetic fibres, such as PET, PP, and acrylic (Anand et al., 2007, p. 253). 

During the latter half of the 20 Century, the production of synthetic plastics and fibres had grown so that the total volume of plastics produced worldwide now exceeds that of steel. This chapter has been concerned with theoretical and experimental studies relating to the environmental consequences of such a rapid shift from a technology based primarily on agriculture, forestry and metallurgy to one based on chemical raw materials such as oil, coal and natural gas. It is shown that plastics and synthetic fibres have the lowest energy costs of nearly all comparable materials and cause less environmental pollution in their production and fabrication. They are easily recycled when not... 

A. M. CunUffe and P. T. Williams, Characterisation of products from the recycling of glass fibre reinforced polyester waste by pyrolysis. Fuel, 82, 2223-2230, (2003). J. H. Harker and J. R. Backhurst, Fuel and Energy, Academic Press London, 1981. A. C. Albertson and S. Karlsson, Polyethylene degradation products, In Agricultural and Synthetic Polymers, ACS Symposium Series 433, J. E. Glass and G. Swift (eds), American Chemical Society, Washington DC, 60-64, 1990. 

Biological CLR refers to fibres that can be safely composted at end of fife to return nutrients to the soil. Technical CLR refers to the synthetic products that are not biodegradable. In textiles, this is frequently the synthetic polymer-based fibres such as polyester, acrylic and nylon. Blending of the two kinds of streams is referred to by McDonough and Braungart (2002) as a monstrous hybrid , meaning that the two kinds of waste streams cannot be effectively separated for ease of recycling. In the apparel context, monstrous hybrids abound in the form of cotton/polyester, or viscose/polyester, or cotton and spandex blends. 

Erdem, S., Dawson, A.R., Thom, N.H., 2011. Microstructure-linked strength properties and impact response of conventional and recycled concrete reinforced with steel and synthetic macro fibres. Construction and Building Materials, 25 (10), pp. 4025-4036. 

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