PMID- 38139950
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
LR  - 20231225
IS  - 2073-4360 (Electronic)
IS  - 2073-4360 (Linking)
VI  - 15
IP  - 24
DP  - 2023 Dec 13
TI  - Upcycling of HDPE Milk Bottles into High-Stiffness, High-HDT Composites with 
      Pineapple Leaf Waste Materials.
LID - 10.3390/polym15244697 [doi]
LID - 4697
AB  - In the pursuit of sustainability and reduced dependence on new plastic materials, 
      this study explores the upcycling potential of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) 
      milk bottles into high-stiffness, high-heat-distortion-temperature (HDT) 
      composites. Recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) sourced from used milk 
      bottles serves as the composite matrix, while reinforcing fillers are derived 
      from dried pineapple leaves, comprising fibers (PALF) and non-fibrous materials 
      (NFM). A two-roll mixer is employed to prepare rHDPE/NFM and rHDPE/PALF mixtures, 
      facilitating filler alignment in the resulting prepreg. The prepreg is 
      subsequently stacked and pressed into composite sheets. The introduction of PALF 
      as a reinforcing filler significantly enhances the flexural strength and modulus 
      of the rHDPE composite. A 20 wt.% PALF content yields a remarkable 162% increase 
      in flexural strength and a 204% increase in modulus compared to neat rHDPE. The 
      rHDPE/NFM composite also shows improved mechanical properties, albeit to a lesser 
      degree than fiber reinforcement. Both composites exhibit a slight reduction in 
      impact resistance. Notably, the addition of NFM or PALF substantially elevates 
      HDT, raising the HDT values of the composites to approximately 84  degrees C and 108  degrees C, 
      respectively, in contrast to the 71  degrees C HDT of neat rHDPE. Furthermore, the 
      overall properties of both the composites are further enhanced by improving their 
      compatibility through maleic anhydride-modified polyethylene (MAPE) use. Impact 
      fracture surfaces of both composites reveal higher compatibility and clear 
      alignment of NFM and PALF fillers, underscoring the enhanced performance and 
      environmental friendliness of composites produced from recycled plastics 
      reinforced with pineapple leaf waste fillers.
FAU - Amornsakchai, Taweechai
AU  - Amornsakchai T
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-5462-9192
AD  - Polymer Science and Technology Program, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of 
      Science, Mahidol University, Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, 
      Thailand.
AD  - Center of Sustainable Energy and Green Materials, Faculty of Science, Mahidol 
      University, Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
AD  - TEAnity Team Co., Ltd., 40/494 Soi Navamintra 111, Khet Bueng Kum, Bangkok 10230, 
      Thailand.
FAU - Duangsuwan, Sorn
AU  - Duangsuwan S
AUID- ORCID: 0009-0003-0679-3726
AD  - Polymer Science and Technology Program, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of 
      Science, Mahidol University, Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, 
      Thailand.
LA  - eng
GR  - FF-069/2566/Mahidol University/
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20231213
PL  - Switzerland
TA  - Polymers (Basel)
JT  - Polymers
JID - 101545357
PMC - PMC10747472
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - HDPE milk bottle
OT  - high stiffness
OT  - natural fiber
OT  - pineapple leaf waste
OT  - upcycling
COIS- Author TA was employed by the company TEAnity Team Co., Ltd. The remaining 
      authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial 
      or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of 
      interest.
EDAT- 2023/12/23 12:43
MHDA- 2023/12/23 12:44
PMCR- 2023/12/13
CRDT- 2023/12/23 01:25
PHST- 2023/11/19 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2023/12/06 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2023/12/08 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2023/12/23 12:44 [medline]
PHST- 2023/12/23 12:43 [pubmed]
PHST- 2023/12/23 01:25 [entrez]
PHST- 2023/12/13 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - polym15244697 [pii]
AID - polymers-15-04697 [pii]
AID - 10.3390/polym15244697 [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Polymers (Basel). 2023 Dec 13;15(24):4697. doi: 10.3390/polym15244697.