Researchers crack the recycling problem for 3D-printed plastics
Scientists have developed 3D-printable resins made from renewable materials that can be recycled multiple times without losing performance. The breakthrough addresses a major sustainability barrier for additive manufacturing, potentially opening new markets for companies seeking circular production methods and helping manufacturers comply with emerging waste regulations.
Originaltitel: Introducing Recyclability to Itaconic Acid–Based 3D Printable Resins: The Case of Disulfide Chemistry
Stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) are rapidly expanding UV-curing additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, recognized for their high resolution and processing speed. In parallel, itaconic acid–based resins have emerged as promising UV-curable formulations, offering high renewable content, compatibility with established diluents, and structural versatility through facile molecular modification. Despite these advantages, the end-of-life strategies remain insufficiently investigated, hindering integration into sustainable manufacturing frameworks. Here, we present 3D-printable disulfide-based covalent adaptable networks (CANs) derived from itaconic acid. The synthesized unsaturated polyester resins were readily formulated with multiple commercial diluents. The resulting systems were evaluated with respect to printability and thermomechanical performance, resulting in 3D printed materials with a glass transition temperature range between 53 and 76 °C and elongation at break between 93 and 142%. The recyclability of the manufactured parts was evaluated through three consecutive cycles of thermal reprocessing or grinding to be utilized as component in new resin formulations. Our findings highlight the potential of disulfide-containing itaconate networks as a versatile platform for next-generation light processable AM resins.