ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Reutilization of waste PET water bottles as 3D printing filaments: a preliminary study on physical and mechanical properties of the produced filaments

Şükriye Aktepe, Mehmet Sarıkahya, and Özgür Cengiz

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Master in Art and Design Programme, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

E-mail: masarikahya@gmail.com

Received: 1 October 2023  Accepted: 30 November 2023

Abstract:

In this study, filament was produced from waste PET water bottles, and the performance of the obtained reused PET (R-PET) filament was evaluated through tensile, surface roughness, and hardness tests. The conducted tests revealed that higher infill density enhances the mechanical durability of the filament and promotes a more homogeneous structure. This study emphasizes the importance of utilizing waste PET water bottles for filament production and evaluating the performance of R-PET filament, with the aim of contributing to a sustainable production process through the reuse of plastic waste. The results of this study demonstrate that waste PET water bottles can be transformed into economic value and offer a potential solution to the plastic waste issue. Additionally, this study highlights the significance of reducing plastic waste and promoting recycling by investigating the mechanical properties of R-PET filament and exploring sustainable material options.

Keywords: Reutilization; Waste PET; 3D printing filament; FDM

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-03249-6

Chemical Papers 78 (4) 2431–2435 (2024)