Enhancing sustainability in polymer 3D printing via fusion filament fabrication through integration of by-products in powder form: mechanical and thermal characterization

Abstract

FFF (fused filament fabrication) is a type of 3D printing that utilizes filament for part creation. This study proposes using by-products or waste to replace part of the plastic in FFF filament, reducing environmental impact. The aim is to maintain a simple manufacturing process involving extrusion on a single-screw desktop machine followed by printing. The plastic matrix comprises polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PETG), with added powdered by-products: seashells, car glass and mill scale (metal). Additives will be incorporated at 10% and 20% by weight, with two grain sizes: up to 0.09 mm and up to 0.018 mm. Mechanical tests (tensile, flexural and hardness) and thermal characterization tests will be conducted. Findings suggest adding 10%w powder of any variety to PETG increases tensile strength up to 48%, with metal powder (mill scale) showing the highest enhancement, even at 20%w, resulting in a 41% increase. Conversely, adding powder to PLA worsens mechanical properties without stiffening the material; instead, the elastic modulus decreases. Metal grain size has minimal impact, with grain sizes lower than 0.09 mm optimal for PLA. Thermal conductivity in polymers blended with powder additives is lower than in virgin polymers, likely due to air void formation, supported by density and microscopic evaluations. This research underscores the potential of utilizing waste materials with a simple FFF filament production to enhance sustainability in 3D printing practices.