Development and characterization of short glass fiber reinforced-waste plastic composite filaments for 3D printing applications

In the present study, a thermoplastic-reinforced composite filament for 3D printing applications was created by mixing short glass fibers (SGF) with the thermoplastic matrix made from plastic waste. Short glass fiber-reinforced recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) blend thermoplastic composite filaments were first prepared by a plastic extrusion machine. The produced filaments' physical, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated. After achieving the desired filament, a 3D printing technology called material extrusion was utilized to create 3D sample parts. The mechanical properties of each printed sample were analyzed following ASTM standards, and their morphological structures were also studied at various weight percentages (pure rHDPE, rHDPE/rPET (75/25 %), rHDPE/rPET reinforced with 15 % SGF, and rHDPE/rPET reinforced with 30 % SGF wt%). From the study, a 52 % increase in tensile strength, 32 % in Young's modulus, and a 50 % reduction in elongation with the addition of 30 wt% of SGF to rHDPE/rPET were noted compared to pure rHDPE. Generally, 3D printable composite filaments can be developed through the incorporation of SGF into plastic waste. This has tremendous advantages for solving environmental pollution and achieving sustainable development.