Grant: Alliance Grants

Recycling not only can help to reduce the carbon footprint, but it also helps to reduce the need for the raw materials, saves energy, and prevents pollution. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most common thermoplastic polymer resin which is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods, and thermoforming for manufacturing. PET makes up about 18% of the world polymer production and is the fourth-most-produced polymer. Recycling PET and turning it to another products is a priority. Currently there are a few producers who recycle PET and turn them into the foam. The objective of this proposal is to introduce this new %100 recycled PET foam as core into the sandwich structures and make it suitable for different industrial applications. Different sandwich concepts including corrugated panels will be developed and investigated. Both mechanical performance (deflection and impact) and functional performances (thermal and acoustic insolation) will be characterized. Development of panel mechanical joining is another important task. Material data sheet for each product will be prepared. Innovative Composite Products ICP is currently producing thermoplastic sandwich panels using Glass/Polypropylene composite face-sheets and different core materials and armacell is producing %100 recycled foam. ICP is using continuous roll forming for the production. As a thermoplastic sandwich panel manufacturer and project partner, ICP is planning to position itself in the market as a producer of sandwich panels using recycled materials for different applications.