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3D Printed Thermoplastic Polyurethane Filled with Polyurethane Foams Residues

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Abstract

This work intends to provide a preliminary approach concerning the preparation of 3D printed products derived from recycled raw-materials. In that sense, recycled polyurethane foam (PUF) particles were added (up to 10% wt/wt) to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to prepare 3D printed products. From the results, it was observed that the presence of PUF particles reduces the density of filaments. Moreover, even though filler and matrix are polyurethane (PU) polymers, the fact that PUF scraps consists of crosslinked PU, it affects inter-layer adhesion, reducing the mechanical performance of the 3D printed specimens, especially when high PUF particles contents were used. Nonetheless, despite of the limitations identified, the addition of PUF particles did not affect the thermal stability of the composites, meaning that these composites can be processed at high temperatures. Therefore, PUF scraps were successfully reused which proved to be a low cost additive for the production 3D printed composites (when using low content), with the advantage of being an alternative to the disposal of PUF.

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Acknowledgements

This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020. The authors would also like to acknowledge Luis Fernandes for the sketch of foam, to COMPOGAL—Indústria de polímeros, S.A. and to Flexipol—Espumas sintéticas, S.A for the TPU and PUF scraps, respectively. The authors would also like to acknowledge José Martinho Marques de Oliveira for the MFI measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

    N. Gama & A. Barros-Timmons

  2. CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials and Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Águeda, Rua Comandante Pinho e Freitas, nº 28, Águeda, 3750-127, Portugal

    A. Ferreira

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  1. N. Gama
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Correspondence to N. Gama.

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Gama, N., Ferreira, A. & Barros-Timmons, A. 3D Printed Thermoplastic Polyurethane Filled with Polyurethane Foams Residues. J Polym Environ 28, 1560–1570 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-020-01705-y

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