SUSTAINABLE · Library of inedited bio-based multicomponent resins for the 3D-printing of self-healing, recyclable thermosets.

Library of inedited bio-based multicomponent resins for the 3D-printing of self-healing, recyclable thermosets.

With the increasing concerns on the environmental issues and the depletion of fossil-based resources, the production of plastics according with the conventional approaches, chemistry and technologies is not feasible anymore. Innovative and sustainable approaches for the development of these irreplaceable materials are, therefore, strongly demanded. To reach this aim, aspects, such as the environmental impact of the starting resources, the production technologies and the end of life managements (i.e. recyclability or biodegradability), need to be carefully considered. Plastics can be classified in two categories: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics can be made to flow upon heating and thereby reprocessable by common melt-processing techniques. Thermosets on the other hand are chemically crosslinked structures, which makes thermal reprocessing impossible and causes additional challenge for chemical recycling. The main aim of SUSTAINABLE is to develop 3D biobased, self-healable, recyclable thermosets starting from natural resources and employing a light-driven 3D printing technology, called digital light processing 3D printing (DLP). The results of this project can make an impact for the society since they will contribute to the reduction of the consumption of the fossil-based resources as well as to the introduction of new chemistries for the development of recyclable thermosets, contributing therefore to the overall reductions of the environmental issue related to the production of conventional thermosets. Moreover, DLP is preferred to thermally-driven 3D printing technologies, due to the higher efficiency of the light polymerization approaches. The project has reached the following objectives: Design and development of a library of molecules (called resins) suitable for the synthesis of biobased, recyclable and self-healable thermosets; DLP of the resins in form of tridimensional thermosets and their characterizations also in terms of recyclability and self-healing; to educate the researcher on the development of bio-based photopolymerizable resins as well as to the management of the scientific project.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union