Fabrication of structural composites from waste carpet

Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) has been used to fabricate engineered composite materials from postconsumer carpet waste. The process is unique and applicable to any type of carpet. This method utilizes the three-dimensional material architecture of carpet to result in composites with improved mechanical properties, as compared to other recycled carpet-based materials. The technique can be used to make laminated structures for load-bearing applications. As a result, this can lead to the recycling of waste carpet with the potential of reduced environmental impact. The potential applications of these composites include low-cost containers, civil infrastructure components, and materials for impact protection. Moreover, the simplicity of the fabrication technique makes it attractive for commercialization. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 31: 380389, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.20261