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1. March 2021

Recycling plastics for additive manufacturing

IPH | The goal is to build recycling loops for 3D printing: Scientists at the Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) gGmbH are researching process steps for obtaining and processing recycled plastic materials.

The mass use of plastics leads to considerable environmental problems. A large proportion of plastic products are only used for a short time or on a one-off basis, and plastic waste produced ends up in the oceans, for example, and is ingested by marine organisms via food.

IPH wants to recycle plastics

In order to establish a more sustainable use of plastics, the development of economic recycling cycles is a central step. The IPH has set up a recycling laboratory for this purpose: Existing premises were converted and equipped with a modern plant infrastructure. In the future, various research projects will focus on the topic of “plastics recycling for additive manufacturing”.

Waste becomes filament for 3D printing

The core of the plant infrastructure is a recycling process chain. With a near-infrared spectrometer, plastic waste can be identified and thus sorted. For shredding, the plastic waste is put into a shredder, which produces a uniform regrind. The moisture is removed from this regrind in a dryer before it is melted in the extruder and processed into filament by the integrated spool winder. The recycled filament can then be used in an additive manufacturing plant.

Recycling products on the test bench

Research potential also exists with regard to the qualification of recycled and additively processed plastics. For example, the repeated recycling of plastics results in changes in properties that can be quantified using appropriate test methods. In order to examine the mechanical and geometric properties of the end products, the IPH has therefore procured an optical 3D profilometer, a tensile testing machine and a pendulum impact tester.

by Alexander Poschke and Alexander Oleff

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At a glance

  • IPH opens new research area
  • Recycling for additive manufacturing
  • Plastic waste is processed into filament for 3D printers
  • Mechanical and geometric testing of additive products
IPH_Recycling_Bild1_Labor
New laboratory at IPH: Plastics are recycled here. (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
IPH_Recycling_Bild2_NIR-Scanner
The plastic waste is first identified with an NIR scanner. (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
IPH_Recycling_Bild3_Mahlgut
The material then goes into the shredder and is crushed. (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
IPH_Recycling_Bild4_Trockner
The ground material is filled into the dryer, where moisture is extracted. (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
IPH_Recycling_Bild5_Extruder
In the extruder with integrated coil winder, the material is melted... (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
IPH_Recycling_Bild6_Filament
... and wound into filament that can be used in the 3D printer. (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
IPH_Recycling_Bild7_Profilometer
Among other things, this optical 3D profilometer is used for quality control. (Picture: Denise Wullfen, IPH)
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Video tour of the new laboratory for additive plastics recycling. (Video: IPH)

Contact

Alexander Poschke, M.Sc.

49 (0)511 279 76 229

poschke@iph-hannover.de

www.iph-hannover.de

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  • Automated 3D printing for highly individual production
  • Professor Endres establishes novel institute
  • 3 years Lower Saxony ADDITIV – a summary
  • Aluminium-Späne kostengünstig wiederaufbereiten
  • Titan-Recycling: Vom Span zum Hochleistungsbauteil

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