Investigation of the mechanical behavior of oleaster seed flour and calcite added recycled abs hybrid composites for floating solar energy power plant applications

This study demonstrates the success of developing a sustainable, high value-added, and environmentally friendly alternative to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material used in floating solar power plants (FSPP). This novel hybrid composite, obtained by recycling waste 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastics, offers a strong model for the circular economy, particularly with its technical performance at low filler ratios. Experimental results showed that the continuity of the polymer matrix was successfully maintained at filler ratios as low as 5%, achieving satisfactory mechanical values such as approximately 28.5 MPa tensile strength and 1.65% elongation at break. Specifically, the increase in elongation at break to 1.75% at a 10% filler ratio proves that oleaster seed flour, a unique finding of the study, acts as a "natural plasticizer," imparting mobility to the matrix and successfully counteracting the embrittlement caused by calcite. Water absorption tests conducted for 41 days in three different environments (treatment water, seawater, and pure water) according to the ASTM D570 standard revealed that the samples exhibited the most stable structure in treatment water, while in seawater, water diffusion remained limited due to the osmotic effect of dissolved salts. In particular, the low water retention capacity of hybrid composites with 5% and 10% additive ratios in aquatic environments scientifically confirms that the developed formulations have the potential for long-term use in real-world field conditions. One of the most remarkable achievements of the study is the impact strength of 5,031 kJ/m² obtained by the composition containing 95% waste ABS. This value is comparable to the performance of recycled HDPE (6.46 kJ/m²) and is at a competitive threshold for many industrial applications. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that waste materials can be transformed into a high-quality engineering product; and strongly proves that the developed material is an economical, technically adequate, and ecological alternative to HDPE in structural areas such as high-voltage power generation platforms.