Composite materials from fully bio-based thermosetting resins and recycled waste poly(ethylene terephthalate)

During the last two decades, interest in bio-based polymers, especially in bio-based composite materials, has grown as a result of environmental concerns. In this paper new composites obtained from fully bio-based unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) and waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were studied for the first time. The composites were prepared by crosslinking the UPR in the presence of functionalized PET particles (3, 6 and 9 wt%), using dimethyl itaconate as reactive diluent. The results showed that the incorporation of the PET particles led to the increase in mechanical properties. However, higher PET loading caused a decrease in the mechanical properties of the composites because of the PET particle agglomeration.