Recycled cellulose from Tetra Pak packaging as reinforcement of polyester based composites

Addressing the environmental problems caused by waste generated by Tetra Pak packaging, in this work, polyester based composites with 80% of polyester resin and 20% of silica sand were elaborated; where the silica sand was partially replaced by recycled cellulose from waste Tetra Pak containers at concentrations of 1, 2, 4 and 6% by weight. Both recycled cellulose and composite specimens were subjected to ionizing radiation process by using gamma rays. The results show improvements on the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength as well as modulus of elasticity) of the composites when they are irradiated at 100 and 200 kGy. Such improvements can be related with the structural modifications caused by gamma irradiation on the cellulose fibers, including changes in the morphology and the crystallinity; which were analyzed through to SEM, IR and XRD techniques.