Synthesis and mechanical properties of glass fiber–reinforced polymer based on waste cooking oil

Converting waste cooking oil (WCO) into high-value materials is challenging due to low profitability and technical barriers. This study first successfully turned WCO into low-cost, high-performance glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP). Specifically, WCO was transformed into photocurable monomer epoxidized waste oil methyl acrylate (EWOMA) by way of epoxidation and ring-opening esterification. EWOMA was then blended with triisopropylsilyl methacrylate (TIPSMA) to formulate an ultraviolet (UV)-curable resin (designated as EWOMA–TIPSMA (ET)) for use as the GFRP matrix, with glass fiber (GF) fabric serving as the reinforcement. The WCO-based GF/ET composite was fabricated by way of a hand lay-up process using a resin-to-fiber mass ratio of 7:3 and was subsequently cured under 405 nm UV light to form the final GFRP. The optimized GF/ET composite, prepared with an ET resin at an EWOMA-to-TIPSMA mass ratio of 3:2, exhibited outstanding mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 191.92 MPa, a flexural strength of 204.97 MPa, and an impact strength of 103.49 kJ/m2 – representing ∼12.5-, 6.3-, and 35-fold improvements over the neat resin, respectively. In addition, the composite showed low porosity (3.44%) and minimal water absorption (1.57%). This work provides a sustainable, scalable route to transform WCO into structurally competitive composites, combining resource efficiency with high performance for industrial applications.