  We investigate engineering applications of recycled nylon fibers obtained
from waste fishing nets, focusing our attention on the use of recycled nylon
fibers as tensile reinforcement of cementitious mortars. We begin by
characterizing the tensile behavior of both unconditioned and alkali-cured
recycled nylon fibers obtained through manual cutting of waste fishing net
filaments, with the aim of assessing the resistance of such materials to
chemical attacks. Special attention is also given to evaluating the workability
of fresh mortar and the possible impacts of contaminants released by waste
fishing nets into the environment. Next, we deal with compression and bending
tests on cementitious mortars reinforced with recycled nylon fibers, and
establish comparisons with the experimental behavior of the unreinforced
material and with results given in existing literature. In our analysis of
different weight fractions and aspect ratios of the reinforcing fibers, we
observe marked increases in the tensile strength (up to +35%) and toughness (up
to 13 times greater) of the nylon reinforced mortar, as compared with the
unreinforced material. The presented results emphasize the high environmental
and mechanical potential of recycled nylon fibers for the reinforcement of
sustainable cement mortars.
