Could Paper Be the Answer to More Sustainable 3D Printing?
There are already a large number of projects that have used additive manufacturing to ensure a more sustainable and environmentally friendly existence. Now, a research group at the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH) led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Emmelmann has turned to answering the question of what egg cartons or paper and sustainable 3D printing have in common. The answer is found in their project, called “Green 3D Printing,” which focuses on the production of more sustainable prototypes and models.
As a rule, plastics are used in 3D printing for the fabrication of prototypes and also models. However, since not all of the materials used come from a sustainable origin and are often disposed of after their use as prototypes, this creates waste. Considering that plastic waste is a growing problem worldwide, with 85% of the 40 million tons of municipal plastic waste generated in the U.S, going to landfill sites, the researchers at TUHH chose a more resource-conserving and environmentally friendly alternative with paper fiber materials.
Specifically the “Green 3D Printing” project is targeting printing with paper fiber materials. This papier-mâché-like material can be produced from egg cartons. The goal is to find out if it will be useful in the future as a 3D printing material. The project, which is being funded with money from the “Calls for Transfer” program of the Science Authority, a total sum of €26,300, focuses specifically on sustainability.
First prints have already been made with paper (photo credits: BWFGB)
From Papier-Mâché to Finished 3D Printing Material
In order to actually be able to produce paper material from the egg cartons for the 3D printed prototypes and illustrative models, the researchers at the Technical University of Hamburg use individual paper fibers which are mixed into a flowable mass by adding water and adhesive. Currently, the team is researching the appropriate material mixture to ensure that it can actually be used for a 3D printer. If a biological adhesive were also mixed in, then these additively produced prototypes could even be disposed of in organic waste. The research at TUHH is not only concerned with the production of industrial prototypes, however, but likewise for end-use parts and for the production of customized packaging that could be used for shipping.
Researchers at TUHH are extremely pleased about this project, as Prof. Dr. Andreas Timm-Giel, President of the TUHH, affirms: “We are pleased that we are once again able to support a number of innovative projects with the “Calls for Transfer” program that we initiated; especially about the TU project “Green 3D Printing” of the TU Hamburg. This project is an impressive example of how engineering solutions can significantly reduce resource consumption and lead us to a more sustainable future. Specifically, the use of paper fiber composites for 3D printing is being tested here. This can provide a sustainable alternative for plastic-based manufacturing of prototypes and illustrative models. The goal of the project is now to develop a prototype system to evaluate its technical and economic suitability.”
The research group of the Technical University of Hamburg at the Institute for Laser and Plant Systems Technology has already been awarded in the past on international stages for its work in the field of 3D printing: for example, for the Innovation Award of the German Economy 2014 for the research of industrial metal 3D printing or also the Future Prize of the Federal President in 2015. For the current project for the production of 3D printing material, work is currently already underway for the patent application.
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