Employees of Zhejiang University have developed an unusual resin for 3D printing that can be recycled an unlimited number of times. The material does not lose strength, and after disposal it can be reused as new.
The key feature of the technology is a reversible thermosetting reaction. Thanks to it, the molecular structure of the material can be restored after recycling. The method allows you to disassemble products at the molecular level, and then assemble and print again.
It is important that reusing the resin does not reduce its performance characteristics. According to the authors, the strength and reliability of products made from recycled material are comparable to the original. This makes the technology promising not only from an environmental but also from an economic point of view, since it fits into the concept of a circular economy in 3D printing.
Unlike most modern UV resins, which are difficult to recycle, the new development makes 3D printing more cost-effective. While no printer can yet be considered completely waste-free, this material brings 3D printing closer to a more sustainable future.
