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The Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Filaments Recycled from Fishing Gear
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Researchers evaluated the potential of recycling polypropylene (PP) from discarded fishing nets and ropes and reinforcing it with glass fiber (GF) to produce 3D printer filaments, comparing recycled rPP-GF against virgin vPP-GF using differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, and Charpy impact testing. Recycled rPP-GF often outperformed virgin material in tensile stress and crystallinity, suggesting strong potential for this approach to extend material lifespan and reduce ocean plastic pollution.
Plastic pollution, mainly from lost fishing gear composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), poses a significant environmental obstacle. This study evaluates the potential of recycling PP from fishnet/rope and reinforcing it with glass fiber (GF) in the form of 3D printer filaments as a way to reduce/prevent ocean plastic. Two materials, one virgin (vPP-GF) and one made up of recycled polypropylene and virgin glass fibers (rPP-GF), were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, tensile, and Charpy impact tests. From the results, it was found that rPP-GF often outperformed vPP-GF. rPP-GF had a higher melting and crystallization point, likely a higher crystallinity, and could withstand a higher tensile stress, while vPP-GF could withstand a higher tensile strain. Further analysis revealed the potential presence of HDPE within the rPP-GF composite, which was not reported by the manufacturer. This significantly affected the Charpy test and made it difficult to draw conclusions from the resulting data. Nevertheless, their comparability in terms of mechanical and material properties indicates the strong potential of recycling polypropylene fishnet/rope and reinforcing it with glass fibers to extend their lifespan and reduce ocean plastic.
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Scientists took old, discarded fishing nets, a major source of ocean plastic pollution, and turned them into new plastic material by blending them with fresh plastic. The recycled blend performed well enough to be reused in products, which could mean less plastic waste polluting oceans, breaking down into microplastics, and eventually ending up in our food and water.
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Researchers in Vietnam recycled end-of-life trawling nets made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into granulates and tested their mechanical properties against virgin material, finding that a 1:1 blend of recycled and virgin granulates nearly matched virgin performance with yield stress of 21.50 MPa versus 21.59 MPa. The recycled material also proved suitable for 3D printing filament production, demonstrating a viable circular economy pathway for marine plastic waste.
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