The pollution of plastic in marine and terrestrial ecosystems is a global issue expected to increase in the coming years and requires innovative solutions to limit the damage caused to the environment. The present research focuses on developing a closed circular economy system based on recycling monofilament fishing lines in polyamide (PA) and small-scale self-production of products related to the fishing industry through additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing. The research methodology followed an experimental approach based on a process divided into different phases. The first phase of the process was focused on consulting scientific articles, books, industry journals, product catalogs, and direct interviews with fishermen. The data obtained helped me understand the state of the art regarding plastic, plastic recycling, circular economy, AM, and open-source (OS) approach. The second part was a practical application by studying the monofilament fishing line in PA, the recycling method, 3D printing, and characterization tests of the recycled polymer. The 3D printing process was carried out at the 3D Direct company in Milan. At the same time, the polymer characterization tests were performed in the laboratories of the Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta” at the Polytechnic of Milan in the Leonardo and Mancinelli campuses. The polymer characterization tests with the analysis of the chemical and thermal properties of the recycled polymer were carried out using GPC and TGA analysis techniques. The 3D printing tests were carried out using a fused granule (FGF) 3D printer to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the produced components. Moreover, a comparative analysis was carried out with a commercial polymer to evaluate the properties of the recycled polymer. The adopted approach allowed for obtaining important results regarding the properties of the recycled polymer and its potential for producing components through AM. The research methodology also involved the collaboration of different technical profiles, including experts in polymer chemistry, materials engineering, and 3D printing, to ensure a complete and multidisciplinary analysis. The results of this study have demonstrated the potential that the recycling of this type of fishing line presents for the production of components through AM. In particular, the GPC, TGA, and mechanical characterization tests have shown that the recycled polymer possesses properties similar to those of the commercial polymer used to compare the two polymers. Moreover, the 3D printing experiments have demonstrated that the components produced with the recycled polymer have satisfactory physical and mechanical properties, in line with the commercial products available on the market. It has also been observed that using an FGF 3D printer has allowed the use of the secondary raw material obtained from the fishing line recycling process, avoiding the extrusion process necessary to produce the filament used in FDM 3D printing, the most commonly used 3D printer type. However, aspects related to the recycling process, particularly the shredding of the filament, require further research and design activities. Overall, this research suggests the possibility of using recycled polymer to produce components through AM, thus opening up important opportunities for self-production and sustainability in the fishing industry.
L’inquinamento della plastica, negli ecosistemi marini e terresti del nostro pianeta, è una problematica globale che è destinata ad un incremento nei prossimi anni e richiede soluzioni innovative per limitare i danni causati all’ambiente. Il presente lavoro di ricerca si concentra sul processo di sviluppo di un sistema chiuso di economia circolare basato sul riciclaggio della lenza mono filamento in poliammide (PA) e l’auto produzione in piccola scala di prodotti legati al settore della pesca, attraverso l’utilizzo dell’additive manufacturing (AM), stampa 3D. La metodologia di ricerca adottata ha seguito un approccio sperimentale basato su un processo suddiviso in diverse fasi. La prima fase del processo è stata incentratata sulla consultazione di: articoli scientifici, libri, riviste del settore, cataloghi di prodotti e interviste dirette ai pescatori. I dati ottenuti sono stati utili a comprendere lo stato dell’arte inerente alla plastica, riciclaggio della plastica, economia circolare, AM e l’approccio open source (OS). La seconda parte è stata di tipo sperimentale applicativo attraverso lo studio della lenza mono filamento in PA, il metodo di riciclaggio, la stampa 3D e le prove di caratterizzazione del polimero riciclato. Il processo di stampa 3D è stato svolto presso l’azienda 3D Direct di Milano, mentre le prove di caratterizzazione del polimero sono state effettuate nei laboratori del Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta” del Politecnico di Milano nei campus di Leonardo e Mancinelli. Le prove di caratterizzazione con l’analisi delle proprietà chimiche e termiche del polimero riciclato sono state effettuate mediante tecniche di analisi GPC e TGA. Le prove di stampaggio 3D sono state effettuate con l’utilizzo di una stampante 3D a granuli fusi (FGF), con il fine di valutare le proprietà fisiche e meccaniche dei componenti prodotti. Inoltre, per valutare le proprietà del polimero riciclato è stata effettuata un’analisi comparativa con un polimero commerciale. L’approccio adottato ha permesso di ottenere importanti risultati relativi alle proprietà del polimero riciclato e alle sue potenzialità per la produzione di componenti mediante l’AM. La metodologia di ricerca ha previsto anche la collaborazione di diversi profili tecnici, tra cui esperti di chimica dei polimeri, ingegneria dei materiali e stampa 3D al fine di garantire un’analisi completa e multidisciplinare. I risultati di questo studio, hanno dimostrato le potenzialità che il riciclaggio di questa tipologia di lenza da pesca presenta per la produzione di componenti mediante l’AM. In particolare, le prove di caratterizzazione GPC, TGA e meccaniche hanno evidenziato che il polimero riciclato possiede proprietà simili a quelle del polimero commerciale, utilizzato per effettuare il confronto tra i due polimeri. Inoltre, gli esperimenti di stampaggio 3D hanno dimostrato che i componenti prodotti con il polimero riciclato hanno proprietà fisiche e meccaniche soddisfacenti, in linea con i prodotti commerciali disponibili sul mercato. Si è anche constatato che l’utilizzo di una stampante 3D FGF ha permesso di utilizzare la materia prima seconda ottenuta dal processo di riciclaggio della lenza, evitando il processo di estrusione necessario a produrre il filamento utilizzato nella stampa 3D FDM, tipologia di stampante 3D che viene utilizzato maggiormente. Tuttavia, gli aspetti legati al processo di riciclaggio, in particolare alla trituraturazione del filamento, necessitano di ulteriori attività di ricerca e progettazione. Complessivamente, i risultati di questa ricerca suggeriscono la possibilità di utilizzare il polimero riciclato per la produzione di componenti mediante l’AM, aprendo così ad importanti opportunità di auto produzione e di sostenibilità nel settore della pesca.
A circular economy approach to the fishing industry : recycling nylon fishing lines through the use of additive manufacturing
Ilardo, Anthony
2021/2022
Abstract
The pollution of plastic in marine and terrestrial ecosystems is a global issue expected to increase in the coming years and requires innovative solutions to limit the damage caused to the environment. The present research focuses on developing a closed circular economy system based on recycling monofilament fishing lines in polyamide (PA) and small-scale self-production of products related to the fishing industry through additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing. The research methodology followed an experimental approach based on a process divided into different phases. The first phase of the process was focused on consulting scientific articles, books, industry journals, product catalogs, and direct interviews with fishermen. The data obtained helped me understand the state of the art regarding plastic, plastic recycling, circular economy, AM, and open-source (OS) approach. The second part was a practical application by studying the monofilament fishing line in PA, the recycling method, 3D printing, and characterization tests of the recycled polymer. The 3D printing process was carried out at the 3D Direct company in Milan. At the same time, the polymer characterization tests were performed in the laboratories of the Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta” at the Polytechnic of Milan in the Leonardo and Mancinelli campuses. The polymer characterization tests with the analysis of the chemical and thermal properties of the recycled polymer were carried out using GPC and TGA analysis techniques. The 3D printing tests were carried out using a fused granule (FGF) 3D printer to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the produced components. Moreover, a comparative analysis was carried out with a commercial polymer to evaluate the properties of the recycled polymer. The adopted approach allowed for obtaining important results regarding the properties of the recycled polymer and its potential for producing components through AM. The research methodology also involved the collaboration of different technical profiles, including experts in polymer chemistry, materials engineering, and 3D printing, to ensure a complete and multidisciplinary analysis. The results of this study have demonstrated the potential that the recycling of this type of fishing line presents for the production of components through AM. In particular, the GPC, TGA, and mechanical characterization tests have shown that the recycled polymer possesses properties similar to those of the commercial polymer used to compare the two polymers. Moreover, the 3D printing experiments have demonstrated that the components produced with the recycled polymer have satisfactory physical and mechanical properties, in line with the commercial products available on the market. It has also been observed that using an FGF 3D printer has allowed the use of the secondary raw material obtained from the fishing line recycling process, avoiding the extrusion process necessary to produce the filament used in FDM 3D printing, the most commonly used 3D printer type. However, aspects related to the recycling process, particularly the shredding of the filament, require further research and design activities. Overall, this research suggests the possibility of using recycled polymer to produce components through AM, thus opening up important opportunities for self-production and sustainability in the fishing industry.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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Descrizione: A circular economy approach to the fishing industry: recycling nylon fishing lines through the use of additive manufacturing
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/204583