Short answer

Incorporate recycled thermoplastic materials into design considerations for 3D printed products, especially those with potential for distributed or on-demand manufacturing.

Field: Resource Management
Source: International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (2020)
Method: Literature Review
Evidence: Moderate effect

Thermoplastic waste can be effectively recycled and utilized in additive manufacturing processes to produce components for personal protective equipment, such as face shields. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science. Using Literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate recycled thermoplastic materials into design considerations for 3D printed products, especially those with potential for distributed or on-demand manufacturing.

Study

Resource ManagementHigh ImpactModerate effect

Recycled Thermoplastics for 3D Printed Face Shield Components

Thermoplastic waste can be effectively recycled and utilized in additive manufacturing processes to produce components for personal protective equipment, such as face shields.

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science · 2020

Key Findings

01Limited research exists on the recovery and preparation stages of plastic waste recycling for additive manufacturing.
02Significant progress has been made in validating the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using recycled materials in additive manufacturing.
03An open-source approach can facilitate the development of processes for utilizing recycled materials in additive manufacturing.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate recycled thermoplastic materials into design considerations for 3D printed products, especially those with potential for distributed or on-demand manufacturing.

How to apply

Investigate specific types of thermoplastic waste and their suitability for recycling into filaments for 3D printing, focusing on applications like PPE components.

Project actions

01Focus on a specific type of plastic waste and research its properties for 3D printing.
02Consider the entire lifecycle of the material, from waste collection to final product.

Method & Evidence

AimTo review the current state of thermoplastic recycling for additive manufacturing and assess its feasibility for producing components like face shield stems.

MethodLiterature Review

ProcedureA comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Springer to examine advancements in thermoplastic recycling processes for additive manufacturing.

ContextHealthcare and manufacturing, specifically personal protective equipment (PPE) production.

Variables

IVType of plastic waste, recycling process parameters.

DVFeasibility (technical, environmental, economic) of producing 3D printed components, quality of printed components.

CVType of 3D printing technology, design of the component being printed.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a timely and relevant issue of resource scarcity and waste management.
+Provides a comprehensive literature review of the current state of the art.

Limitations

The availability and consistency of recycled plastic feedstock can be a challenge, and the mechanical properties of recycled materials may differ from virgin plastics.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings is dependent on the quality and scope of the reviewed literature. Validity is enhanced by using multiple reputable databases.

Think critically

To what extent can the mechanical properties of 3D printed components made from recycled plastics match those made from virgin materials, and what are the implications for product safety and performance?

Design Principles

"Embrace circular economy principles by designing for material recovery and reuse in additive manufacturing processes."

This research highlights a viable pathway for resource recovery and distributed manufacturing, particularly relevant during health crises when supply chains are strained. It offers a sustainable approach to material sourcing and waste reduction in the production of essential items.

What This Means for Your Design

You can use old plastic to 3D print things like parts of face shields, but more work is needed to figure out the best ways to clean and prepare the plastic first.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the use of recycled materials in your design project or exploring sustainable manufacturing methods.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the potential of recycling thermoplastic waste for additive manufacturing, particularly for producing essential items like face shield components. While advancements have been made in validating the technical and economic feasibility, further development is needed in the material recovery and preparation stages. This underscores the opportunity for designers to explore circular material flows and distributed production models.

Source

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science

Recycling of plastic waste in the 3D printing process with the potential for stem production, mobile part of the facial protector: Literature review

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about recycled thermoplastics for 3d printed face shield components?: Incorporate recycled thermoplastic materials into design considerations for 3D printed products, especially those with potential for distributed or on-demand manufacturing. Evidence: International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (2020).
Why does "Recycled Thermoplastics for 3D Printed Face Shield Components" matter for design?: This research highlights a viable pathway for resource recovery and distributed manufacturing, particularly relevant during health crises when supply chains are strained. It offers a sustainable approach to material sourcing and waste reduction in the production of essential items.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate recycled thermoplastic materials into design considerations for 3D printed products, especially those with potential for distributed or on-demand manufacturing.
What were the main findings?: Limited research exists on the recovery and preparation stages of plastic waste recycling for additive manufacturing.. Significant progress has been made in validating the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using recycled materials in additive manufacturing.. An open-source approach can facilitate the development of processes for utilizing recycled materials in additive manufacturing.
What research method was used?: Literature Review.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Investigate specific types of thermoplastic waste and their suitability for recycling into filaments for 3D printing, focusing on applications like PPE components.
What are the limitations?: The review identified a gap in research concerning the initial stages of plastic waste recovery and preparation for additive manufacturing.