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Technology / Re: Would it be possible to 3D print housing using waste plastic?
« on: 29/01/2020 02:21:01 »
I mixed up some thermoplastic polymer concrete a year or two ago. To make it I found all you have to do is just heat a thermoplastic, stir in some sharp sand and then let it cool. I tried a few different polymers and they seemed to all more or less work. It seemed to be potentially 3D printable, although it looked like it was going to be quite abrasive on nozzles. Polymer concretes are actually quite strong.
If the waste plastic is cheaper than portland cement, then it could be quite good; normally plastic is relatively expensive. What kind of cost per kg can you get?
The upsides are that polymer concrete is usually waterproof, but the downsides of concrete is that it's a good thermal conductor; in most cases you want poor thermal conductors for structures, and the flammability is an issue, but with the right additives or polymers might not be an issue.
If the waste plastic is cheaper than portland cement, then it could be quite good; normally plastic is relatively expensive. What kind of cost per kg can you get?
The upsides are that polymer concrete is usually waterproof, but the downsides of concrete is that it's a good thermal conductor; in most cases you want poor thermal conductors for structures, and the flammability is an issue, but with the right additives or polymers might not be an issue.
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