PROCESSING POLYPROPYLENE (PP) BASED MEDICAL MASK WASTE AS SHOE FABRIC

• Main Author: Qinthara, Kiara
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/68737
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

During COVID-19, the use of masks is an obligation which everyone needs to fulfil to prevent the spread of the virus. In 2020-2021 alone, there has been 18,460 tons of mask waste. The amount of mask waste drives the importance of recycling. The masks that are commonly used by the public are medical masks (surgical face masks) made from polypropylene (PP). PP is a plastic that is commonly used in everyday life for its superior properties and wide range of applications at relatively low price. One of the products that can be made from PP is yarn for clothing fabric. In this study, shoe fabric was made from yarn which was made from blended virgin PP with PP from mask waste and cotton yarn. PP blending was carried out because there was a decrease in the properties of PP from mask waste based on the melt flow rate (MFR) test. There are 3 variations of PP-based yarn which has a 10%wt PP difference each (10-30%wt). The yarn is made using melt-spinning machine with a processing temperature range of 215-225 ?C. The resulting yarn is then tested for yarn number and tensile strength. After the yarn is produced, a plain-woven pattern is made from PP yarn and cotton yarn (Ne 7 for cotton yarn). The resulting fabric is then tested for tensile strength, tear strength and contact angle. Based on the data obtained, the fabric with a composition of 10-20 %wt PP waste complies with SNI 08-1793-1990 (Woven Fabric for shoes). To reduce existing waste, polypropylene-based medical mask waste can be processed as cloth for shoes in accordance with SNI.