Optimizing Mechanical Properties of Recycled 3D-Printed PLA Parts for Sustainable Packaging Solutions Using...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Growing environmental concerns necessitate sustainable materials in manufacturing.
• Recycled polylactic acid (PLA) offers biodegradability and a lower environmental impact than traditional thermoplastics.
• Additive manufacturing (AM) presents opportunities for utilizing recycled plastics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the mechanical properties of recycled PLA parts produced via additive manufacturing.
• To investigate the combined effects of processing parameters and annealing on recycled PLA.
• To establish recycled PLA as a viable sustainable alternative to virgin PLA.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of processing parameters (layer thickness, infill density) and annealing conditions.
• Application of machine learning algorithms to predict tensile behavior.
• X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to determine crystallinity.

Main Results:

• Machine learning models predicted tensile behavior with a 6.059% average error.
• Optimized processing and annealing improved mechanical properties (UTS, Young's modulus, elongation) and crystallinity (22.33%).
• Optimal settings identified: 0.2 mm layer thickness, 75% infill (as-built), 100% infill (annealed).

Conclusions:

• Optimized recycled PLA parts demonstrate mechanical properties and crystallinity comparable to virgin PLA.
• Recycled PLA is a viable sustainable material for applications like biodegradable packaging.
• The study provides a framework for optimizing recycled PLA in AM, supporting the circular economy.