IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i22p9726-d1516500.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Production of a Wood–Plastic Composite with Wastes from Disposable Masks and Corrugated Cardboard: A Sustainable Post-Pandemic Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Anderson Ravik dos Santos

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil)

  • Rivelino Neri Silva

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil)

  • Nayara Mendes dos Santos

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil)

  • Mariana Fernandes Costa Vieira

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil)

  • Patrícia Santiago de Oliveira Patrício

    (IntechLab Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG), Belo Horizonte 30510-000, Brazil)

  • Wanna Carvalho Fontes

    (Department of Urban Engineering, Morro do Cruzeiro University Campus, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil)

Abstract

The increasing demand for disposable textile products, personal care items, and electronic commerce has led to a substantial rise in waste generation, particularly from nonwoven fabric masks (wNWFs) and corrugated cardboard (wCC). This study assessed the feasibility of utilizing these waste materials, which were produced in significant amounts during the COVID-19 pandemic, as both a matrix and reinforcement filler in wood–plastic composites (WPCs). The WPC was fabricated using either two extrusion cycles or thermokinetic homogenization, with both processes being followed by hot pressing. The formulations consisted of virgin polypropylene (vPP), wNWF, and wCC in proportions of 45, 45, and 10 wt %, respectively. The results demonstrated that the composites produced via two extrusion cycles exhibited a tensile strength that was 85% higher and three-point flexural strength three times greater than those produced through thermokinetic homogenization. These findings contribute to advancements in scientific and technological knowledge and offer an efficient solution for managing these types of waste, which continue to be generated post-pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Anderson Ravik dos Santos & Rivelino Neri Silva & Nayara Mendes dos Santos & Mariana Fernandes Costa Vieira & Patrícia Santiago de Oliveira Patrício & Wanna Carvalho Fontes, 2024. "Production of a Wood–Plastic Composite with Wastes from Disposable Masks and Corrugated Cardboard: A Sustainable Post-Pandemic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9726-:d:1516500
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/9726/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/9726/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Walter Leal Filho & Amanda Lange Salvia & Arminda Paço & Celia Dias-Ferreira & Samara Neiva & Izabela Simon Rampasso & Rosley Anholon & Claudio Ruy Portela de Vasconcelos & João Henrique Paulino Pires, 2022. "Assessing the Connections between COVID-19 and Waste Management in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9726-:d:1516500. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.