Recycling Plastic Waste as Composite Reinforcement

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
⁵ Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
⁶ Mechanical and Construction Engineering Department, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom

^* Corresponding author: omoniyi.po@unilorin.edu.ng

Abstract

Environmental pollution due to improper disposal of plastic waste has greatly degraded the livelihood of both humans and animals. In this article, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were used as reinforcement in scrap aluminum. The composite material was made through the stir-casting route. The samples were characterized using the microstructure, tensile strength, and hardness. Results show an increase in tensile strength up to 4% addition of PET and steady hardness reduction as reinforcement composition increases. However, the mechanical strength declines as reinforcement goes beyond 8%.