Sustainable 3D printing with recycled tire rubber-based filaments: an investigation of process parameters and mechanical behaviour
ISSN: 1355-2546
Article publication date: 26 January 2024
Issue publication date: 23 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study evaluates the potential of using the material extrusion (MEX) process for recycling waste tire rubber (WTR). By investigating the process parameters, mechanical behaviour and morphological characterisation of a thermoplastic polyurethane-waste tire rubber composite filament (TPU-WTR), this study aims to establish a framework for end-of-life tire (ELT) recycling using the MEX technology.
Design/methodology/approach
The research assesses the impact of various process parameters on the mechanical properties of the TPU-WTR filament. Hysteresis analysis and Poisson’s ratio estimation are conducted to investigate the material’s behaviour. In addition, the compressive performance of diverse TPU-WTR triply periodic minimal surface lattices is explored to test the filament suitability for printing intricate structures.
Findings
Results demonstrate the potential of the TPU-WTR filament in developing sustainable structures. The MEX process can, therefore, contribute to the recycling of WTR. Mechanical testing has provided insights into the influence of process parameters on the material behaviour, while investigating various lattice structures has challenged the material’s capabilities in printing complex topologies.
Social implications
This research holds significant social implications addressing the growing environmental sustainability and waste management concerns. Developing 3D-printed sustainable structures using recycled materials reduces resource consumption and promotes responsible production practices for a more environmentally conscious society.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the field by showcasing the use of MEX technology for ELT recycling, particularly focusing on the TPU-WTR filament, presenting a novel approach to sustainable consumption and production aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Treed Filaments for their provision of filaments and valuable discussions regarding printing properties. The authors also thank Sharebot for their technical support on the 3D printers. Besides, the authors thank Lorenzo Giudici and Mauro De Mori for their help with the mechanical testing setup.
Declaration of competing interest: The authors declare no competing interest.
Authors contributions: Conceptualization: R.P. and S.G.; methodology: S.B., S.G. and R.P.; software: S.B., S.G. and R.P.; validation: S.B., S.G. and R.P.; formal analysis: S.B., S.G., M.E.R.M.C. and R.P.; investigation: S.B., S.G. and R.P.; data curation: S.G. and R.P.; writing – original draft preparation: R.P. and S.G.; writing – review and editing: S.B., S.R., S.G., M.E.R.M.C. and R.P.; visualization: S.G. and R.P.; supervision: R.P. and S.G.; project administration: R.P.; funding acquisition: S.G., S.R. and R.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript”.
Citation
Badini, S., Graziosi, S., Carboni, M., Regondi, S. and Pugliese, R. (2024), "Sustainable 3D printing with recycled tire rubber-based filaments: an investigation of process parameters and mechanical behaviour", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 571-587. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-08-2023-0309
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited