Transformação de Garrafas PET em Filamento para Impressão 3D: Desenvolvimento de Protótipo e Avaliação de Suas Propriedades Mecânicas e Reológicas

Abstract

This work investigates the technical feasibility of producing recycled PET (r-PET) filament at a domestic scale using discarded bottles as raw material for 3D printing applications. The study covers the complete processing route—from thermal conditioning and extrusion to filament drawing—followed by mechanical and rheological characterization of the processed material. Melt Flow Index (MFI) tests revealed a significant increase after printing, indicating polymer chain degradation; however, the similarity between standard deviations showed that r-PET and PETG maintained compatible rheological behavior for additive manufacturing. Results also demonstrated that the domestic drawing process did not significantly alter the polymer’s properties, confirming its efficiency in producing functional filament. Tensile and hardness tests further assessed the effects of thermal degradation, moisture, and morphological variations throughout processing. Overall, the findings demonstrate that domestic r-PET filament production is technically viable and represents a sustainable alternative for additive manufacturing, contributing to plastic waste reduction and promoting the reuse of polymeric materials.