Circular economy and sustainability
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLYMER/PARTICLE COMPOSITES FROM RECOVERED TEXTILE WASTE
WOODYTEX
Motivation
Almost a tonne of textile waste is generated every year in Spain, of which only around 12% is selectively collected for reuse or recycling, while the rest ends up in landfill. Selective collection enables the waste to be revalued by converting it into recovered raw material.
Using a circular economy model, the aim is to optimise resources, reduce raw material consumption and make the most of waste by recycling it or converting it back into raw material for new processes.
The textile sector has many possible uses for its own waste if the various material types are appropriately sorted once discarded.
The industry has a range of technologies with which to treat textile waste for reuse. Mechanical and chemical recycling can incorporate waste into technologies used in other sectors, improving the percentage of waste recycled back into the industry and reduce the carbon footprint.
Objectives
Investigate the functionalisation of post-industrial textile waste in polymer-particle composites using Glue-Blender technology and thermocompression. The process offers improved fire behaviour, resistance to staining, homogeneity and more durable surface finish. An attempt will be made to improve the mechanical properties of the material by developing hybrid wood-textile products for use in the furniture sector. In addition, the possibility of drastically reducing the cost of manufacturing these composites using MW curing techniques as an alternative to the classic thermal curing processes will be theoretically evaluated.
En este sentido, el objetivo principal del proyecto es investigar y desarrollar prendas textiles de punto para la integración de sensores y wearables que mejoren el rendimiento y rehabilitación en deportistas mediante la gamificación.
Value and competitive advantage
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Development of hybrid textile-wood materials with an innovative surface finish and unique color combinations.
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Potential application in sectors such as furniture, decoration, and interior design, standing out as sustainable and distinctive products.
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Materials with good mechanical performance and fire resistance.
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Generation of knowledge to optimize properties, develop more technical materials, and create a catalog of sustainable and innovative materials.
Results obtained
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Development of polymer-particle composite materials using textile waste, as well as combinations of textile waste with wood waste particles.
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Completion of 52 successful tests, resulting in 52 pieces with different compositions and/or process parameters. The materials obtained contain between 48% and 90% of upcycled textile waste.
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Production of materials with good fire resistance and high mechanical properties.
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Development of a wide range of polymer-particle composite materials incorporating textile waste.
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Creation of a demonstrator featuring the most promising materials achieved during the project.
Grant number: IMAMCA/2024/6
Programme: Plan of non-economic activities 2024
Period of execution: January 2024 – December 2024
Status: Finished
More information: PLAN OF ACTION
Entity: IVACE
Project supported by the Conselleria Conselleria de Innovación, Industria, Comercio y Turismo de la Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE
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R&D AREAS
New high-performance functionalised materials
Circular economy and sustainability
Advanced manufacturing, smart textiles and digitalisation
High value-added solutions for strategic markets
RELATED PROJECTS
NEWS
AITEX is present at the Babykid FIMI fair at Feria Valencia from January 26 to 28, presenting tests and certifications for children’s products.
AITEX has attended the Cosmetorium fair in Barcelona once again on October to present its new products for the cosmetic sector.
AITEX has hosted the LIFE POLITEX workshop entitled “Closing the textile polyester cycle: challenges and opportunities”, based on promoting sustainable solutions for the management and recycling of textile materials.