Fabrication of interpenetrating phase composite from wastepaper using sheet lamination

• Main Author: Tan, Rachel Hui Hui
• Other Authors: Lai Changquan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/177359
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Sustainability and biodegradable materials have been greatly sought after upon recent years. The exploration and utilization of new projects revolved around being environmentally conscious. With an increasing demand for environmentally friendly materials, the repurposing of wastepaper into high-value composites presents a novel approach to material science, emphasizing waste reduction, resource efficiency, and enhanced mechanical properties. This research primarily focuses on the mechanical and material characterization of Interpenetrating Phase Composites (IPCs), including the process of paper pyrolysis as an attempt to enhance the composites' structural integrity and performance. Through comparative analysis, this report shows the mechanical superiority of paper based IPCs especially when compared to conventional resin cube. The paper cube showed remarkable strength and flexibility, attributed to the effective execution of adhesive methods. Meanwhile the resin cube displayed limited mechanical robustness, highlighting the potential of paper-based IPCs in applications that requires high strength-to-weight ratios and flexibility. This research contributes to the growing knowledge on sustainable material science, offering insights into the development of green composites without compromising on performance of the material. It displays potential advancement in the sustainable material engineering field.