Extremely Strong Material Made from Ternary Acrylic Resin System

Title: Extremely Strong Material Made from Ternary Acrylic Resin System

Unmet Need: Chemical recycling of plastic waste through aminolysis diverts waste stream to useful resin products

Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most used bioplastic in the world. PLA products include disposable cutlery, electronics, and medical implants. Degradation of PLA by aminolysis is simple, and the degradation product can be easily formulated into a strong acrylic resin that is suitable for photocuring, 3D printing, and other uses. WSU inventors have demonstrated a true upcycling method that transforms PLA wastes into a high-performance material with high thermal resistance and mechanical strength.

The Technology: Invention of unique ternary resin system

The inventors have developed a unique ternary resin system which introduced a crosslinked polymer material exhibiting high thermal resistance, mechanical, and thermal properties. This system complements the usual synthesis method involving the reaction of lactate ester with ethanolamine. While composite structures with basic shapes and uniform cross sections can be readily produced, the manufacturing of composite structures with hollow interiors of complex geometries presents a unique manufacturing challenge. However, this ternary resin can be used in 3D printing, addressing this challenge.

Applications:

Production of super strong acrylic resin suitable for 3D printing
Upcycling approach converts a ubiquitous bioplastic waste into a valuable product
Ternary resin has high strength, thermal resistance, and mechanical properties
Sustainable solution for plastic waste management

Advantages: