Study on the technical feasibility of replacing glass fibers by old newspaper recycled fibers as polypropylene reinforcement

The present paper explores the aptness of old newspapers as a source of reinforcing fibers for composite materials. Different percentages of newspaper fibers, obtained by wet (ONPF) and by dry processes (CONPF), were compounded with polypropylene (PP). A coupling agent was added to the compound to improve the interface between matrix and reinforcing fibers. Tensile test were performed to obtain the mechanical properties of the composite materials. Composite materials reinforced with sized glass fiber (GF) were also prepared and tested. The mechanical properties of the materials were compared. A fiber tensile strength factor (FTSF) and a fiber tensile modulus factor (FTMF) were proposed to evaluate the contribution of the reinforcement fibers to the tensile properties of the composite materials. Finally a pump body, made with GF/PP composites was modeled and tested to obtain the nodal stresses and deformations under nominal pressure. A list of ONPF, CONPF reinforced composite materials was proposed to replace the GF/PP. A body pump was mold injected with a CONPF/PP composite, was assembled in a water pump and tested under nominal working conditions.