Upcycling PVC into 3D Printing Resins

It has become evident that traditional recycling efforts are unable to handle the volume of plastic waste produced worldwide. A potential remedy to this issue may be polymer upcycling: the repurposing of waste plastic into materials with more value. Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is a strong candidate for upcycling as its qualities can be leveraged in a variety of ways. One application we are pursuing is the use of PVC for 3D printing resins to produce materials with tailored properties, while simultaneously reducing the amount of “fresh” resin required for printing. We have developed methods by which PVC can be processed and then blended with commercial 3D printing resins. The mechanical properties of the resulting 3D printed objects depend on the PVC mass fraction and molecular weight; therefore, altering these variables enables the development of tunable materials to meet specific applications. This presentation will examine the relationship between the PVC source and resin type on the properties of the 3D prints, how the mass fraction of PVC affects resin performance, and how incorporating PVC influences the overall qualities of the 3D printed parts.