| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 ASC Technical Conference, US-Japan Joint Symposium, D30 Meeting
|
| Symposium
|
2024 ASC Technical Conference, US-Japan Joint Symposium, D30 Meeting
|
| Presentation Title |
Mechanical Recycling of 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites for Increased Sustainability Through a Reduction of Waste Material |
| Author(s) |
Andrew Frankowski, Isaac Sluder, Kwek Tze Tan |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Andrew Frankowski |
| Abstract Scope |
The increasing demand for sustainable manufacturing processes has brought about the use of 3D printing in the manufacturing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP ). To improve the sustainability of 3D printing it is important to address the inherent waste generated by this process such as support material, unsuccessful prints, and its use in rapid prototype iteration. For this study, the virgin material is a Nylon based filament with short, chopped carbon fibers dispersed uniformly. During the 3D printing process, layers of continuous carbon fibers can be added to the printed part to enhance its mechanical properties. Utilizing a mechanical grinding process to reclaim the reinforced composite material, we can produce a recycled short, chopped carbon fiber filament with an increased carbon fiber volume fraction as compared to the virgin material. The goal is to overcome the thermal degradation of Nylon, introduced in the extrusion of the ground material into a usable recycled filament, with the increased strength provided by additional carbon fibers. The mechanical properties of the recycled filament are compared against the virgin material by printing identical test coupons following ASTM standards for tensile, flexural, and IZOD impact testing. The recycling process provides an 80% yield of the CFRP material into usable 3D printer filament. Reducing the waste generated from 3D printing CFRP will help to ensure its availability as a sustainable option for the future of composites manufacturing. Recycled filament 3D printing also opens the opportunity to remanufacture end-of-life CFRPs, further improving its sustainability. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: Post-meeting proceedings |