The Problem:
The integration of plastic waste in crosslinkable resin production remains underexplored, representing a significant missed opportunity for promoting recycling and waste management. Conventional crosslinkable resin production methods often rely on expensive and non-renewable raw materials, limiting scalability and scope of application. In additional, properties of convention resins are limited in customization, restricting their utility across diverse industrial applications.
The Solution:
Researchers at The University of Alabama have developed crosslinkable resins derived from low-cost raw materials, including plastic waste and bio-derived sources, using glycerol-derived compounds. These resins exhibit highly tunable properties due to the versatility in their chemical structures and allow for optimized properties such as elasticity and glass transition temperature, making them highly suitable for applications in 3D printing and general manufacturing. This technology can create scalable, multi-functional resins that outperform existing alternatives through customization and scope of application.
Benefits: