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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Conversion of polyester/cotton industrial waste to higher value

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5989146

The primary textile industry in 1981 produced 1.5 billion pounds of blended polyester/cotton (PET/Cotton) yarns that are chiefly polyester. The polyester component, which is almost entirely poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), is polymerized from petroleum products and furnished to the textile industry as staple fiber. About 3% of the PET/Cotton production is waste. Although substantial markets exist for the separate products, the problem of economically separating the components has not been solved. The alternative is to develop an application for the unseparated waste. This project was undertaken to study the feasibility of using the waste blends as feedstock for injection molded plastic. Thermal and mechanical properties were determined on the compacts.

Research Organization:
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA). School of Textiles
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
5989146
Report Number(s):
CONF-8604120-1; ON: DE86005284
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English