Research: LCA of distributed recycling of post-consumer high density polyethylene for 3D printing filament

Researchers at Michigan Technological University USA performed LCA studies on the recycling of high density polyethylene into filament suitable for additive layer manufacturing with 3D printers. The conventional centralized recycling system was compared to the proposed in home, distributed recycling system. This system would involve shredding the plastic and then producing filament with a plastic extruder and then printing the filament into parts and products with 3D printers.
The results showed that distributed recycling uses less embodied energy than the best-case scenario used for centralized recycling. An article about the research is published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
Click here for an abstract of the article.
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