The effect of recycled polyester (rpet) filament fiber properties on various woven fabric performance properties

Abstract

In order to reduce the requirement of waste eliminating and environmental pollution, recycling seems to be a suitable solution. In this study, polyester fibers with three different number of filament and two fiber cross section form (round and plus) were spun from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) polymer and texturised on an industrial scale. rPET yarns were used as a weft yarn in woven fabric production. Fabric performance properties such as breaking, tearing and seam slippage resistance, weight, breaking elongation, abrasion resistance and air permeability were analysed and compared with that of virgin PET fabrics. As a result of this study, it was determined that virgin and rPET polymers provided almost similar fabric properties. Higher number of filaments gave lower fabric breaking elongation, seam strength, abrasion resistance and air permeability values while led to higher tearing strength. Except fabric weight and tensile properties, filament cross section had a significant affect on other studied fabric properties.