Synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymer nanoparticles obtained by emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization for production of recycable carpet

Abstract

Automotive and industrial carpets are made with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers impregnated by an aqueous emulsion copolymers, which make it impossible to recycling and reuse these fibers for subsequent production of new carpets. Currently 35 % of the total carpet production is composed by scraps and leftovers from the manufacturing process, which are incinerated or disposed of in landfills. In this context, the production of polymeric nanoparticles with multi-stimulus response that improve the redispersilbe of polymeric film and subsequent reuse of carpet fibers are of great industrial and academic interest. The objective of this research project is to synthesize polymeric nanoparticles with multi-stimulus responsive for carpet production, in order to reuse of fibers and polymeric nanoparticles for production of new materials. The polymeric nanoparticles will be obtained via emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization of monomers: styrene (Sty), n-butyl acrylate (ABu) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). In the present project, three polymeric stabilizer will be carried out to obtain the polymer nanoparticles with stimulus response: (i) oligomeric stabilizer obtained by copolymerization of methacrylic acid with N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA), (ii) copolymerization of methacrylic acid with methacrylamide and (iii) cassava starch modified with cationic groups. The polymeric nanoparticles will be characterized and used for the production of carpets, which will be evaluated in accordance with the stability of the pieces and redispersibility of the polymeric film and reuse of these fibers and nanoparticles. This research project will be developed in partnership with BASF and ICT-UNIFESP for carpet characterizations and reprocessability. (AU)