Fused Filament Fabrication of a Dynamically Crosslinked Network Derived from Commodity Thermoplastics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Plastic waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, necessitating effective recycling strategies.
• Upcycling postconsumer plastics into high-value materials is crucial for reducing environmental impact and conserving resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for upcycling commodity thermoplastic polyolefins into advanced materials.
• To demonstrate that enhanced performance and sustainability can be achieved simultaneously in recycled plastics.

Main Methods:

• Functionalization of polyolefins with maleic anhydride.
• Epoxy-anhydride curing to create dynamic covalent networks.
• Characterization of material properties, including mechanical integrity and shape-memory response.

Main Results:

• Thermoplastic polyolefins were successfully upcycled into materials with a distinct rubber modulus above their melting transition.
• The dynamic networks exhibited properties suitable for 3D printing filaments, retaining mechanical integrity.
• The materials demonstrated a thermally triggered shape-memory response with 90% shape recovery.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic crosslinking offers a viable strategy for upcycling recycled thermoplastics into high-performance materials.
• This approach enhances the sustainability and technological applicability of reprocessed plastics.
• The developed materials bridge the gap between performance and environmental responsibility in polymer recycling.