Functional fibers based on recycled PP from home textiles

The production of PP fibers by melt spinning from recycled PP, resulting from the ionic solvent-based recycling of waste carpet piles, was studied in the article. From the different recycled materials supplied by the project partner Sabanci University, it was possible to understand that materials with lower content of ionic liquid (Isoprep 2 and 3) were more suitable for the compounding and melt spinning processes. From these, a melt spun fiber using 100% of the Isoprep 3 material was successfully produced. The obtained fibers fulfil the minimum requirements of weaving processes in terms of tenacity and elongation at break, but optimizations are still needed mainly regarding the improvement of mechanical properties.