Development of Sustainable Polymer Composites Containing Waste Glass and Natural Fibers for Strengthening Purposes

This study investigates the development of sustainable polymer composites for structural strengthening by incorporating waste glass fibers and natural fibers (flax and hemp) into an epoxy matrix, in response to the growing environmental concerns. Mechanical, thermal, and durability-related properties were evaluated through tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water absorption, and water immersion aging tests. Results showed that incorporating waste glass fibers enhanced the tensile strength and thermal decomposition temperature by 88% and 5.4%, respectively, compared to composites reinforced with solely natural fibers. Water absorption tests indicated that waste glass fiber-reinforced hybrid composites exhibited lower water uptake than flax and hemp fiber-reinforced composites. After water immersion, the tensile strength loss was recorded as 22, 25, and 8.5% for the composites reinforced with hemp, flax, and waste glass fiber, respectively. The findings confirm that incorporating waste glass fibers into natural fiber composites effectively mitigates moisture sensitivity and improves mechanical performance. Hybridizing flax and hemp fibers with waste glass fibers provides a practical and sustainable approach to enhancing composite performance, making them a viable alternative for strengthening reinforced concrete structures requiring long-term resistance. The recycled waste glass fibers employed in this study offered comparable mechanical performance while drastically lowering raw material consumption and environmental impact, in contrast to virgin glass fibers frequently used in earlier investigations. This demonstrates how recycling-oriented composite design can provide both sustainability and performance benefits.