PULTRUSION PROCESS OPTIMIZATION IN PET BOTTLE RECYCLING-BASED PRINTER 3D FILAMENT MANUFACTURING: STRIP DIMENSION ANALYSIS AND RESULT QUALITY

Abstract

Waste plastic bottles, especially Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, can be recycled into 3D printer filaments. The pultrusion method, which uses PET strips that have been cut to a certain width, can produce filaments continuously. However, differences in the width of used bottle pieces can have an impact on process stability and the quality of the filaments produced. This study investigated how 7 mm, 8 mm, and 9 mm wide PET strips impacted the consistency of filament diameters produced by forming. It starts with cutting the bottles using high-precision knives, then extrusion through Pultrusion molding and then cooling to form filaments. Dimensional precision, surface quality, and mechanical stability of the filament are the main metrics evaluated. The results of the purification show that the pultrusion machine can produce high-quality filaments with smooth surfaces and consistent diameters at temperatures of 210°C to 220°C and rolling speeds of 1.2 to 1.68 rpm. This machine is expected to reduce the impact of waste on the environment while providing alternative raw materials for 3D printing technology with lower production costs. In addition, this research has made a significant contribution to the development of plastic recycling technology and the reduction of environmental pollution.