Fecha de publicación: -- Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Graphene oxide-reinforced recycled Nylon 66 electrospun nanofiber mats enable the fabrication of lightweight compression-molded composites with enhanced mechanical and thermal performance. Optimized graphene oxide loading and cross-ply reinforcement improve strength, stiffness, and toughness while promoting sustainable polymer waste valorization for advanced engineering applications.

ABSTRACT
Recycling nylon helps reduce plastic pollution, conserve energy and save fossil fuel. This study presents a recycling-based approach for developing high-performance composites by reinforcing a virgin Nylon 66 (N66) matrix with electrospun nanofiber mats fabricated from recycled Nylon 66 (RN66) cable ties containing 0.5–5 wt.% graphene oxide (GO). Compression-molded composites with different nanofiber orientations were fabricated and characterized using FTIR, EDS, SEM, DSC, TGA, and ASTM-standard mechanical testing. Among the investigated compositions, the cross-ply composite containing 2 wt.% GO exhibited the highest overall mechanical performance, with 31.5% higher flexural strength, 82.7% higher Izod impact strength, and 90.4% higher Charpy impact strength than neat N66, while also showing improved ductility. The cross-ply composite containing 5 wt.% GO demonstrated the highest compressive strength (98.5 MPa, 35.9% higher than neat N66) and enhanced thermal stability, with the degradation onset temperature increasing from 365°C for neat N66 to 398°C. These results show that GO-reinforced recycled Nylon 66 nanofibers enhance mechanical and thermal performance while valorizing post-industrial nylon waste, offering a promising platform for lightweight engineering applications.