Abstract
Identifying new recycling initiatives for waste fishing gear is highly important, especially, if the fishing gear could end up as marine litter. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of using recycled polyethylene (R-PE) fibres from waste fishing nets as fibre reinforcement in gypsum-based materials. The discarded fishing nets were processed by an industrial, mechanical cutting operation to create monofilament R-PE fibres. The fibre characterisation included tensile tests, geometry, morphology and leaching of anions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−). The mechanical properties of the R-PE fibres were found to be in the same range as other commercially available synthetic fibres used in gypsum-based materials. Laboratory-scale specimens were prepared and R-PE fibres added at fractions of 0.25–2.00 wt%. Mechanical tests were carried out to determine the compressive and flexural response of gypsum-based materials. The addition of R-PE fibres resulted in a small reduction in the compressive strength and the ultimate flexural strength, but to the positive side, there was a significant increase in the post-crack performance. Based on these results, gypsum-based materials with the addition of R-PE fibres have the potential for being used as non-structural elements such as gypsum boards where increased post-crack performance and ductility is required.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Fibers and Polymers |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 164-174 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 1229-9197 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was funded through the ERDF Interreg VB Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) Programme 2014–2020 and was part of the projects Circular Ocean (Grant no. 21) and Blue Circular Economy (Grant no. 299). The authors would like to acknowledge Master student Pernille Andersen for helping with the laboratory work, and the Danish recycling company, Plastix A/S, who kindly provided the R-PE fibres used in the test programme.
Keywords
- Fibres
- Gypsum-based materials
- Mechanical properties
- Plastic recycling
- Waste fishing nets