PCIEERD Young Innovators Program (YIP)

CAPSULE PROPOSAL

DETAILS OF THE RESEARCH

Mentor Bryan B. Pajarito
Position/Designation Associate Professor
Institution Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, UP Diliman
Address C.P. Garcia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Email address bryan.pajarito@gmail.com Contact number (mobile & landline)

Research title Recycled PET composite filaments reinforced with abaca derived microfibrillated cellulose for
additive manufacturing
Duration of research January 2019 – January 2020
Problem Statement In the year 2010, around 275 million metric tons (MMT) of plastic waste was generated and
4.8 – 12.7 MMT enters the ocean. Around 1.88 MMT of mismanaged plastic waste that
sweeps to the oceans come from the Philippines, making it the third worst offenders when it
comes to ocean pollution. Around 79 % of these plastic wastes come from food and beverage
packaging materials (Jambeck, et al., 2015). The plastic consumption of the world is
projected to increase further in the future. Thus, new methods for the recovery and post-
consumption of usage of waste plastics must be investigated.

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing is the method of layer-by-layer deposition of a

material to form a three dimensional object. It is a fairly new method of material fabrication
compared to traditional ones such as subtractive manufacturing and injection moulding. Its
advantages over traditional methods include reduce machining and labor cost, single-step
manufacture of objects, relatively fast speed of manufacture, and reduced waste in fabrication
(Redwood, 2018). One of the techniques in AM is fused deposition modelling (FDM) wherein
a filament of material is melted by a moving heated nozzle that deposits layer-by-layer the
material into a printing bed. Among the most common materials used as FDM 3D printer
filaments are polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Research
efforts have also been made to produce 3D printer filaments out of recycled filaments.
Recycled filaments with a nominal diameter of 2.80 mm have been formed using high density
polyethylene (HDPE) (Baechler, De Vuono, & Pearce, 2013).

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is another potential material for use as a 3D printer

filament. PET is one of the most widely used polymers, accounting to about 18 % of the
global production (Ji, 2013). Although the most common use of PET is in the production of
synthetic fibers, the most popular use of PET is the production of bottles. PET bottles can be
grinded mechanically, melted and extruded to produce filaments. However, grinding down
PET decreases the crystallinity of PET, lowering the glass transition temperature from 81 oC
to as low as 67oC (Garmulewicz, Holweg, Veldhuis, & Yang, 2016; Demirel, Yaras, & Elcicek,
2011).

The fibrous structure of plants is made up of an assembly of microfibrils known as

microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). These structures could be obtained via application of high
shear forces to cellulosic plant materials through methods such as high pressure
homogenization, microfluidization, and wet grinding (Chinga-Carrasco, 2011). MFC
possesses various suitable properties for many applications. It has high strength and
stiffness which makes it excellent as functional filler for various materials. It is stable over a
wide range of pH and temperature. Moreover, the addition of MFC in polymers such as
polypropylene (PP) and PLA have resulted to an increase in glass transition temperature due
to the nucleating effect of nanofibers. This property makes the material more favourable for
3D printing of parts designed for applications at elevated temperatures (Suryanegara,
Nugraha, & Achmadi, 2017; Yeo & Hwang, 2015).

The aim of the proposed study is to form strong, cheap and 3D-printable filaments from PET
bottles and MFC from local abaca. The intended application of these filaments is the
production of 3D printed eco-bricks which could aid communities in building strong, cheap,
and lasting structures.
Significance
NEEDS The plastic problem is everybody’s problem. In the end, all the
problems cause by plastics will return to humanity. It’s starting to

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 happen already. Our plastic wastes degrade physically over time,
reaching sizes in the micron level. These residual plastic wastes
called “microplastics” are consumed by marine organisms and by
virtue of the food chain, are also consumed by humans. These
microplastics could accumulate toxic chemicals in our body, some
of which even reaches our bloodstream (Carrington, 2018). If
nothing is done to reduce the amount of plastic that are flushed out
into the oceans, the total mass of plastic waste in the ocean will
exceed the total mass of fish in the seas as early as the year 2050
(MacArthur, 2016). Hence, aside from reducing plastic
consumption and production, new methods for recovery and post-
consumption usage of waste plastics must be investigated.

Among the most common plastic wastes encountered in everyday

life are waste plastic bottles, most common of which are made of
PET. Recycling these bottles is a vital part of reducing the
country’s plastic waste. Recycled PET bottles have shown
potential to create various productive materials. Eco-bricking of
recycled PET bottles, for example, has been used to make
furniture, garden spaces, schools, and houses. Eco-bricking has a
potential in aiding various communities, especially those stricken
with poverty.

SOLUTIONS -What is the proposed solution?

-How would it address the problem or satisfy the needs?
-Could it solve the entire problem or would it address a critical
part?
-What are the limitations?

3D printing is a fairly new method for fabricating various objects,

from simple to complex designs. 3D printer filaments can be
produced from recycled PET bottles. This addresses the need for
new methods for post-consumption usage of waste plastic bottles.

To increase the structural integrity of recycled PET, it can be

reinforced with MFC derived from local abaca. Once the composite
filaments from the recycled PET has been successfully printed,
eco-brick designs can be printed. The goal of the design is to
make the mechanical properties of the eco-bricks comparable with
traditional construction materials such as wood and cement.

DIFFERENTIATION - Compare with competitive or current solutions/technology.

-What are the advantages and unique features of the proposed
research?
-Can this differentiation create greater value than that of existing?
-Can it reduce cost, increase efficiency or provide better
performance?
-Can it result to special skills or exceptional services?
-Can it provide new information?
-Can it be a technology or an invention comprising of new design,
approaches; use of new materials?
-Can they be protected or protectable by patents, copyrights,
trademarks?

The proposed research aims to provide strong and cheap 3D

printable filaments using PET bottles. The mechanical, thermal,
and viscoelastic properties of PET filaments will be improved by
the addition of MFC derived from local abaca. One of the goals of

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 the proposed study is the printing of eco-bricks with comparable
mechanical properties compared to traditional construction
materials such as cement at a competitive cost.

The proposed technology aims to introduce new approaches in the

production of 3D printer filament from recycled PET bottles and 3D
printed parts from these filaments. If successful, the technology
can be protected by patents. Aside from patents, various
publications from recognized journals can be made using the
different parts of the study.

BENEFITS - What are the benefits that can be perceived/received after using
the solution?
-Does it contribute to the body of knowledge?
-What would be its impact to the target market/beneficiaries?

The proposed study provides a sustainable solution to our

country’s plastic waste. The study aims to provide a partial solution
in reducing the country’s mismanaged plastic waste and at the
same time, helping communities build strong, cheap, and lasting
structures. Additionally, the study imparts new knowledge in the
fabrication of materials.

Objectives General objective

To produce a strong, cheap, and 3D-printable filament from recycled PET bottles and MFC
from abaca

Specific objective
1. To produce MFC from abaca pulp via high pressure homogenization
2. To modify MFC from abaca pulp using silane coupling agent to improve dispersion in PET
3. To produce PET-MFC composite filaments
4. To assess the feasibility of 3D printing PET-MFC composite filaments
5. To evaluate the mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic properties of PET-MFC composite
filaments and 3D printed materials from the composite filaments
6. Publication of the study

Project description/
Abstract The research aims to produce 3D printer filaments made of PET from recycled plastic bottles,
reinforced with MFC derived from local abaca. The PET-MFC composite filaments will be
used to 3D print strong eco-bricks for construction purposes. The mechanical, thermal, and
viscoelastic properties of the composite filaments and the 3D-printed parts will be evaluated.

Expected output Provide tangible and measurable outputs of the proposed research in terms of:
a) Publications (in recognized scientific journals)
b) Patents to be applied (tangible measure of innovation)
c) Products developed (commercial value of outputs)
d) People trained or collaborated with (increase in the scientific workforce)

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 e) Places (facilities established)
f) Policies recommended

The results of the proposed research can be published in recognized scientific journals. The
following topics can be published from the proposed research:
(1) Thermal and mechanical properties of PET-MFC composites
(2) 3D printer filaments from PET-MFC composites
(3) 3D printed eco-bricks from PET-MFC composites

The technology that will be developed by the research can be applied for a patent.

The proposed research will develop novel PET-MFC composite filaments which could be
used for a variety of applications.

Major activities
Activity Timeline
Purchase of materials and chemicals January – February 2019
Homogenization of abaca pulp to form MFC
Characterization of MFC from abaca pulp

Preparation of recycled PET bottles

Characterization of PET bottles March – April 2019
Preparation of PET-MFC composite

Filament extrusion
Characterization of extrusion filaments May – July 2019

3D printing
Characterization of 3D printed parts August – September 2019

Publication of research stud October 2019 – January 2020

BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS
Expenses Proposed amount (PhP)

Materials and chemical expenses 200,000

Laboratory expenses, equipment rental, testing consumables and 200,000

printing expenses

Research dissemination 200,000

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 600,000
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED

* Honoraria to be released upon completion of the research.

Prepared by:

_________________________________
Signature of Applicant over printed name

Certified Correct by:

________________________________
Signature of Mentor over printed name

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