A compact plastic recycling complex has been created in Novosibirsk. It was developed by scientists from Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU). The innovative project is aimed at reducing the amount of waste and transforming recycled raw materials into finished products.
The device operates on the principle of an industrial recycler, but in a simplified and miniature form. During use, plastic bottles, old casings, and defective parts are crushed into a uniform crumb. After that, the crumb is fed into an extruder — a device that softens the material. The plastic melts, is thoroughly mixed, and is then forced through a nozzle.
The resulting material can be used in 3D printing. For this, it enters a cooling device and is then wound onto a spool. Also, if raw material for molding is required, the molten plastic is either immediately fed into a small mold or formed into pellets for further use.
The modular design of the system makes it possible to adapt it for different types of plastic and tasks. The development by Novosibirsk scientists has become a tool for creating local recycling cycles.
At present, the scientists are testing a prototype of the device on various types of plastic, such as PP, PET, PLA, and PETG. At the same time, work is underway to register a patent for the software used to control the complex. In the future, they plan to develop intuitive software that will allow users without special training to manage the process remotely.
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