I-Corps: Carpet-Polyolefin Recycled Composites

Award ID: 2414963

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of consumer products based on common recycled materials. The initial solution creates recycled plastic pallets composed of single-use polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polyolefins, and post-consumer PET and PP carpet using compression molding. The goal of the project is to offer value-added products using less expensive, sturdier, and repairable recycled materials. The recycled plastic products may be more durable in wet environments and easier to clean, which may make them a better value than wood products, especially in the food industries. In addition, the materials may have a positive impact on the environmental due to reduced landfilling and plastics disposal. Other potential applications include acoustic panels for housing and office markets. This I-Corps project is based on the development of a combination material composed of post-consumer polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PP carpet, and single-use polyolefins such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE). These materials may be molded into composite panels using low-cost fabrication techniques such as compression molding. The goal is to provide low-cost, sustainable composites with strengths (
NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman