Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Civil/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering
Session: 2
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Olivia McBride - New Mexico State University
Landfills and oceans are currently facing the crucial problem of having many petroleum-based plastics not decomposing. Many of these materials that pile up are materials that are single-use plastic products. Because petroleum-based plastic is so durable, these items take thousands of years to decompose, causing major problems to the environment. Due to this, the alternative way is to use bio-degradable materials to start replacing these petroleum-based products. The aim of this research project is to find a solution to substitute the use of petroleum-based toxic products with bio-degradable materials that will be combined with polylactic acid (PLA), to generate a new type of organic based PLA filament. I will be making the homogeneous mixture consisting of 20% eggshells and 80% PLA. I will be using the Filabot extruder setup for the manufacturing of the filament. The test samples will be comparing strength and durability of the homogeneous mixture compared to 100% PLA material. The methodology is based on specimens with the fit of ASTM D638, their fabrication from the organic based filament, printed with the Sindoh 3DWOX 1 3D Printer, and the strength test using the universal testing machine. This is done with the intent of the samples becoming a compostable plastic and therefore be able to decompose much sooner than the petroleum base alternative.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): USDA I-DISCOVER Grant Funded by the US Department of Agriculture for their support. Award #2014-38422-22078. National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture 'Wheels of Change Grant' Award #2015-38422-24112. I wish to thank Dr. Delia J. Valles-Rosales for this opportunity. Also for the mentoring of Mason Gregory, Ivan Nieto, and Alejandro Najera.
Faculty Advisor: Delia Julieta Valles-Rosales, dvalles@ad.nmsu.edu
Role: I am responsible for each part of this project with the help of Mason Gregory and Ivan Nieto to conduct the manufacturing of the filaments of the homogeneous mixture of PLA and eggshells. I worked with the rapid prototyping of the specimens, ultimate tensile strength test, and statistical analysis of the specimens.