Additive Manufacture of Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Using Pyromellitic Dianhydride Targeted for FDM 3D-Printing Applications

Mohammed Alzahrani, Hesham Alhumade, Leonardo Simon, Kaan Yetilmezsoy, Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam () and Ali Elkamel ()
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Mohammed Alzahrani: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Hesham Alhumade: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Leonardo Simon: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Kaan Yetilmezsoy: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa, Esenler, Istanbul 34220, Turkey
Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam: Department of Chemical Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box. 59911, United Arab Emirates
Ali Elkamel: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: The suitability of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (R-PET) for 3D-printing applications was evaluated by studying the melt flow characteristics of the polymer. R-PET is known to experience significant deterioration in its mechanical properties when recycled due to molecular weight loss that results from reprocessing. Lower molecular weight hinders R-PET from being 3D-printable due to low viscosity and melt strength. The hypothesis was that R-PET can be modified with reasonable effort and resources to a 3D-printable thermoplastic if the low viscosity problem is tackled. Higher viscosity will enhance both the melt strength and the melt flow characteristic of the polymer, making it more suitable for processing and 3D printing. Reactive extrusion was selected as the method for modifying the polymer to achieve the objective via a coupling reaction with chain extender PMDA (pyromellitic dianhydride). A decrease in the melt flow index (MFI) from 90 to 1.2 (g/10 min) was recorded when PMDA was added at 0.75 wt% which lowered the MFI of modified R-PET to a comparable value to commercial 3D-printing filaments. Furthermore, FT-IR analysis was performed to investigate the chemical composition of the product. Finally, a 3D-printing filament was made from the modified R-PET by mimicking the main processing stations that exist in the filament-making process, which are the extrusion stage, water bath cooling stage and spooling stage. With 0.75 wt% PMDA, the melt strength was satisfactory for pulling the filament and, therefore, a filament with on-spec dimension was produced. Finally, a small object was successfully 3D-printed using the filament product at a minimum recommended temperature of 275 °C.

Keywords: 3D printing; poly(ethylene terephthalate); reactive extrusion; recycled thermoplastic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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