Reuse of polyethylene fibres from discarded fishing nets as reinforcement in gypsym-based materials

In this study, the potential of reusing plastic fibres from discarded waste fishing nets of polyethylene (PE) as fibre reinforcement in gypsum-based building materials is investigated. The fishing nets were not reprocessed, but simply washed and cut to monofilament fibres by an industrial operation. The fibre length was ranging from 1 mm (pulp) to 65 mm, and the diameter from 0.25 mm to 0.35 mm. Gypsum-based prisms and cylinders were cast with these fibres (fibre addition of 0.5 – 2.00 wt%). Mechanical properties such as compressive strength and three-point bending strength of fibre reinforced cylinders and prisms were determined by laboratory-scale testing. A decrease in first-crack strength of the prisms was observed. However, the addition of waste PE fibres resulted in improved post-crack behaviour.