Reuse of natural fiber reinforced eco-composites in polymer mortars

In this article, the results of the design of recycling–reuse facilities for transformation of solid–polymer composite waste into polymer mortars and concrete structures for the low‐cost building industry have been presented. Thermoplastic polymer matrix composites based on polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with natural fibers (rice husks and kenaf fibers) have been recycled and reused as reinforcement. Polymer mortars with unsaturated polyester resin as a binder (commercially available orthophthalic liquid polyester with 35% monomer content) have been prepared by mixing foundry sand and milled recycled eco‐composites (milled size of 0.050 mm) in mix proportions of 40/20/40 %/% wt. The obtained materials have been analyzed with standard test methods (mechanical tests, thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA), dynamic‐mechanical analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimtery (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers