The use of polymer recyclates has been increasing over the past decade due to economic, political, environmental and social factors. It was observed that a large amount of white board markers in universities were consumed yearly (670 kg/year). By performing the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test, it was found that polypropylene (PP) is the major constituent of these markers. The idea of this project was to recycle and reinforce PP at same time. The Reinforcement was using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPETFs) from the marker itself, and using E-glass fiber (electrical class). The main goal of this research is to see if it is possible to prepare a composite from the mentioned material and then to find some properties for these composites such as tensile modulus and yield strength. Experimentally this was achieved by preparing sheets using Home Made Thermal Press. Different compositions of r-PP, rPETFs and glass fiber were used at different processing temperatures in order to prepare different composites.
As a result it was found that the optimum composition of GF (short fiber) for GF/r-PP composite was 15% with an optimum temperature 220˚C, there was a slight improvement in tensile modulus and yield strength. For r-PP/rPETFs composite the optimum rPETFs composition was 10% with optimum temperature of 220˚C. But for a mat of GF the optimum temperature was 280˚C. Finally for rPETF sand r-PP/GF composite the optimum compositions for PET and glass fiber were 4% and 10% respectively at 220˚C. And also it was observed that as content of fibers increases, the modulus efficiency factor (KE) decreases, and this factor was determined at the optimum temperature. The modification in properties for r-PP/GF was noticed compared with r-PP/rPETFs as the rPETFs act as a bridge into matrix rather than reinforcement.