Today’s fabber materials can be categorized into the following four major sections:
1.) Polymer
2.) Polyester Compounds
3.) Wax
4.) Metals
Among the four categories, Polymer is the biggest category with three subsections:
1a.) Thermoplastics
1b.) Thermoset
1c.) Photopolymer Resins
*For a detailed list of Fabber material types, please visit our section Current Fabber Materials.
With today’s technology, polyester compounds, wax, and metals are all recyclable. These three categories of fabber materials are generally collected by recycling companies and reproduced into other useful forms or products.
The only exception comes from the category of polymers. Unfortunately, not all of today’s polymers can be successfully recycled. Among the three sections of polymers, only thermoplastic is predominantly recyclable due its natural ties with plastics. Within thermoset materials, only Sheet Molding Compound, Bulk Molding Compound, and Epoxy are recyclable. Photopolymer resins, however, is the most intriguing one among the three.
At this point, most photopolymers cannot be successfully recycled due to its toxic properties. Photopolymer is toxic during its liquid / resin stage with toxic vapors when its cured. This is also the reason why exhaust fans and dark work cabinets are used during processes such as Solid Ground Curing. After photopolymers are cured and become solids, its vapor and aqueous toxicity is no longer a threat. Short-term dermal contact with solid photopolymers is acceptable, however, long-term dermal contact can still be harmful to health. As a result, there is actually a patented process by Stephen Hanna of 3D Systems, known as “Detoxification of Solid Freeform Fabrication Materials”, to treat photopolymer and allow it to be biocompatible for long-term dermal contact. Most of today’s recycling process for complex and composite materials goes through a thermal or chemical process. When we recycle photopolymer through a thermal or chemical process, the dealing and handling of toxic liquids becomes an issue.
Overall, majority of today’s fabber materials are recyclable. However, we do have to admit that today’s recycling practices for nearly all materials tend to be high-tech waste management strategies for low quality products. Rather than regaining valuable materials for continuous reuse in high quality goods, most of the recycling process is really down cycling, results in a reduction in the value of material over time. The recycling of plastics, for example, often mixes different polymers to produce a hybrid of lower quality, which is then used to produce something nebulous and shoddy, such as speed bumps. Like recording over a tape over and over again, most of today’s recycled materials falls into a spiraling loss of value that ultimately ends in the landfill. The same situation is applied to current fabber materials. Almost none of today’s fabber materials are recycled and then directly reused in fabbing machines. In order for the fabbing industry to excel to the next level, more “intelligent” materials are needed to make a self-sufficient recycling process possible.
Section I: Introduction
Section II: Present (YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS SECTION)
Section III: Future
Complete Table of Contents
Reference