Sustainable Engineering of Polyethylene Fiber Materials: Advancing Functional Properties of Diverse Textile-Based Structures
Name
huynh-amyhuynh-sm-tpp-2025-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
Size
102.99 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
94bcc1da943d33d6ff718ebfb4698242
Author(s)
Huynh, Amy
Advisor(s)
Boriskina, Svetlana
Ashford, Nicholas
Mueller, Stefanie
Date Issued
May 2025
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This thesis explores pathways to circularity for polyethylene-based textiles through an integrated framework that combines material experimentation, systems-level policy analysis, and cultural innovation. Focusing on olefin block copolymer (OBC) filaments—engineered with semicrystalline polyethylene hard segments and elastomeric soft blocks—the study evaluates their mechanical behavior across a range of stitch-based textile geometries. Cyclic and postfatigue tensile testing reveals how formulation and structure shape energy dissipation and durability, informing design strategies for high-performance applications such as intra-vehicular spacesuits and wearable technologies. To understand the broader systems context, the thesis analyzes barriers to integrating recycled polyethylene (rPE) into textile supply chains, identifying economic, legal, institutional, technological, firm-level, and societal constraints. It proposes targeted strategies based on global policy trends, EU case studies, and a geospatial analysis of U.S. recycling infrastructure. Finally, the work explores how generative AI can revitalize traditional craft practices—such as bobbin lace—by co-creating patterns designed for both aesthetic and functional performance in new materials. Together, these efforts propose a model for advancing sustainable textile innovation that bridges material science, circular design, and policy transformation.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
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