Affordable and Sustainable: Innovating Filament Extrusion for Recycled Materials

Abstract

The chemical stability, toxicity and non-biodegradability of the polymers pose a significant environmental threat. Addressing end-of-life treatment sustainability is crucial for mitigating these issues. The customized Lyman filament extruder in the Advanced Magnetic Materials Processing Laboratory represents an innovative approach to advancing sustainability in renewable energy production and CO₂ mitigation. Redesigning the thermal system and screw operation will tackle key challenges, including precise temperature control, consistent material flow to handle diverse recycled materials. Integrating an advanced thermal regulation system will reduce the energy consumption by maintaining optimal thermal conditions, thereby lowering the CO₂ footprint of the recycling process. The optimized screw design will ensure uniform material flow, minimizing waste and reducing landfill volume. In future, producing high quality filaments under optimal conditions will enhance development of new additively manufactured electromagnetic filaments such as optimized electromagnetic absorbers and conformal antennas with extended life cycle.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1473/thumbnail.jp