MORE | Spring 2022

Recycling of Plastic Waste for Additive Manufacturing

Due to energy, economic, and logistical difficulties, the poor polymer recycling rate remains a difficulty for humanity today. The usage of thermoplastic materials in the industrial and public open-source additive manufacturing sectors is increasing exponentially, resulting in an increase in worldwide polymer consumption and waste generation. A first step toward achieving this goal is to demonstrate the technical viability of recycling thermoplastic material used as 3D printing filaments. This research seeks to produce printable filaments which can be made from recycled polylactic acid and as a result, reduce the amount of waste generated in the environment, helping keep lives healthy and safe.