Reutilization of Waste Polymeric Materials for 3D Printing Applications

Today’s use of polymeric materials in human life is inevitable, and its waste accumulation increases daily. Since most polymeric materials are non-degradable, their waste accumulation threatens the global community. Many research works focus on the reuse and recycling of polymeric materials. The advancement in manufacturing technology resulted in the fabrication of 3D objects layer by layer without the molding and machining process. The process is called additive manufacturing or 3D printing technology and is one of the promising techniques to replace traditional manufacturing processes in many areas. 3D printing technology achieved notable applications in various sectors such as automotive, military, aerospace, oil and gas, jewelry, electronics, and medical implants. One of the main benefits of the 3D printing technique is the ability to construct three-dimensional items using liquid, powder, and filament materials. Hence, the use of polymeric waste materials as source materials for 3D printing applications would have potential benefits to industries and also reduce global environmental threats. The book chapter aims to describe the potential source of polymeric wastes and their chemistry, processing techniques to convert the waste to source material for 3D applications, and their economic benefits.