Plastic chips as feedstock for 3D-printing processes

Abstract

This paper is exploring the possibilities to turn plastic chips from milling processes
from a waste containing a high share of micro-plastics into a valuable feedstock for plastic
production processes especially 3D-Printing. Turning waste into a resource needs a complex
investigation in several fields. Therefore, the paper describes the chips and methods of sorting,
the treatment of the chips for an efficient handling, the effects of the treatment as well a
comparison of different production chains, that use the chips. A holistic view including technical,
economic and ecological aspects of the materials and processes is the key for a successful
transformation of the chips. Technical aspects are the form and the pourability of the chips as
well as the thermal degradation of the material while processing. Economic aspects are
concerning the amount of chips that are available and can be processed by the tested methods
and the effort that is necessary. The ecological aspects are the reduction of waste and the
benefits of avoiding to produce new materials.