Preparation of 3D Printing Filament from Face Mask Waste

Recycling of plastics is one method for
reducing environmental impact and resource depletion.
The only way to decrease the environmental problems
caused by polymeric waste accumulation produced from
day-to-day applications of polymer materials such those
used in packaging and construction is by recycling. It
reduces the quantity of residues in landfills. This study
has been investigated the recycling of face masks waste
during manufacturing. Face masks waste is identified as
polypropylene (PP) through FTIR and DSC tests. The
recycled polypropylene from waste mask was collected
and converted into pellets. The pellets have been
converted into filament using a filament extruder.
Agarose gel has been added for improving the adhesive
nature of PP. Hardness tests were performed for the PP
and agarose gel blended PP samples through Rockwell
hardness machine. Micro structure of both the materials
were analyzed through Optical Microscope.