CESS Seminar: Sustainable Composites using Recycled PET, Natural Fibers: A Step towards Environmental Sustainability
Abstract
Environmental impact of material usage for manufacturing of composite materials is an evolving challenge for sustainable development. Use of recycled materials/natural materials for the purpose of manufacturing composites is being seen as a potential solution for achieving sustainable development goals by the manufacturers. Mechanical & durability properties of Composites manufactured using these type of recycled/natural materials are generally inferior to those manufactured using virgin/synthetic materials & efforts are being made to improve their properties.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used thermoplastic polymers for food packaging. Recycling and reuse of waste PET for various purposes like its usage as a matrix material for composites seems to be the one of the best route to decrease the hazardous impact of PET on the environment. Similarly, demand for green materials derived from natural sources has experienced a notable surge in recent times. Natural fibres are characterized by their low cost, low density, carbon dioxide preservation, long-term viability, recycling ability, and biological degradation, which set them apart from synthetic fibres. Although utilization of natural plant fibres is also associated with certain limitations such as their susceptibility to atmospheric conditions, insufficient resistance to acid–base, and inadequate resistance to solvents. Accordingly, multiple techniques like mercerization, silane treatment and graft copolymerization are employed in the pre-treatment of fibres.
The proposed talk focuses on some studies related to development of sustainable composites and reports the potential of these materials in reducing the environmental impact of material usage and a way forward in implementation of a circular materials economy. Specifically, the seminar will dwell upon the development, characterization of composites based upon recycled PET (rPET) matrix and (a) Glass fibers (b) Flax fibers as reinforcements. The talk explores the feasibility of creating high-performance composites using recycled and natural materials, contributing towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly materials usage.
Short bio
Professor Raman Bedi is a Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering at Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab, India and is also serving as Dean (Academic Programmes) at NIT Jalandhar.
He has more than 27 years of experience in Teaching, Industry, Consultancy, Research and Development, Laboratory Development, Project Implementation, Curriculum and Learning Material Development and Administrative activities etc. Professor Bedi is working in the field of Fatigue of Composite Materials, sustainable material usage in composites, materials characterization, microwave processing of materials etc. Specifically, his work involves experimental investigations, modelling in reference to fatigue of composite materials, microwave processing of materials, materials property correlation using microstructural, EBSD studies etc. He has more than 100 publications journal articles, conference articles and book chapters) to his credit till date.
Professor Bedi has also established State-of-the-Art Material characterization facilities in his institute at a cost of around 100 million INR which include Powder X-Ray diffractometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), ICPMS etc. He was also responsible for establishing Fatigue testing laboratory, Automation & Mechatronics laboratory at his parent Institution through various sources of funding. He is a fellow of Institution of Engineers (India), Life member of Indian Society of Mechanical Engineers and has been member of European Society of Composite Materials (ESCM) also.
Sandwiches are offered at the end of the seminar.
Environmental impact of material usage for manufacturing of composite materials is an evolving challenge for sustainable development. Use of recycled materials/natural materials for the purpose of manufacturing composites is being seen as a potential solution for achieving sustainable development goals by the manufacturers. Mechanical & durability properties of Composites manufactured using these type of recycled/natural materials are generally inferior to those manufactured using virgin/synthetic materials & efforts are being made to improve their properties.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used thermoplastic polymers for food packaging. Recycling and reuse of waste PET for various purposes like its usage as a matrix material for composites seems to be the one of the best route to decrease the hazardous impact of PET on the environment. Similarly, demand for green materials derived from natural sources has experienced a notable surge in recent times. Natural fibres are characterized by their low cost, low density, carbon dioxide preservation, long-term viability, recycling ability, and biological degradation, which set them apart from synthetic fibres. Although utilization of natural plant fibres is also associated with certain limitations such as their susceptibility to atmospheric conditions, insufficient resistance to acid–base, and inadequate resistance to solvents. Accordingly, multiple techniques like mercerization, silane treatment and graft copolymerization are employed in the pre-treatment of fibres.
The proposed talk focuses on some studies related to development of sustainable composites and reports the potential of these materials in reducing the environmental impact of material usage and a way forward in implementation of a circular materials economy. Specifically, the seminar will dwell upon the development, characterization of composites based upon recycled PET (rPET) matrix and (a) Glass fibers (b) Flax fibers as reinforcements. The talk explores the feasibility of creating high-performance composites using recycled and natural materials, contributing towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly materials usage.
Short bio
Professor Raman Bedi is a Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering at Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab, India and is also serving as Dean (Academic Programmes) at NIT Jalandhar.
He has more than 27 years of experience in Teaching, Industry, Consultancy, Research and Development, Laboratory Development, Project Implementation, Curriculum and Learning Material Development and Administrative activities etc. Professor Bedi is working in the field of Fatigue of Composite Materials, sustainable material usage in composites, materials characterization, microwave processing of materials etc. Specifically, his work involves experimental investigations, modelling in reference to fatigue of composite materials, microwave processing of materials, materials property correlation using microstructural, EBSD studies etc. He has more than 100 publications journal articles, conference articles and book chapters) to his credit till date.
Professor Bedi has also established State-of-the-Art Material characterization facilities in his institute at a cost of around 100 million INR which include Powder X-Ray diffractometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), ICPMS etc. He was also responsible for establishing Fatigue testing laboratory, Automation & Mechatronics laboratory at his parent Institution through various sources of funding. He is a fellow of Institution of Engineers (India), Life member of Indian Society of Mechanical Engineers and has been member of European Society of Composite Materials (ESCM) also.
Sandwiches are offered at the end of the seminar.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
- Prof. Olga Fink (IMOS), Prof. Alexandre Alahi (VITA), Prof. Dusan Licina (HOBEL), Prof. Alain Nussbaumer (RESSLab)
Contact
- Anastasios Vassilopoulos