Engineering response and printability of recycled PMMA reinforced with titanium carbide in MEX additive manufacturing

Recyclability has emerged as a critical aspect in the pursuit of sustainability, waste reduction, and the circular economy, resulting in its extensive adoption in both research and industry. Material extrusion (MEX) additive manufacturing (AM) technologies present considerable potential for capitalizing on this trend by employing recycled polymers, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), as evidenced herein. The integration of ceramic fillers, such as titanium carbide (TiC), utilized in this research, provides a method to enhance the mechanical properties of recycled PMMA and expand its use. Three-dimensional printed samples were fabricated in appropriate forms to evaluate their mechanical strength (tensile, flexural, impact, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, microhardness), structure, and morphology (computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy). Thermal and rheological properties were assessed to evaluate the TiC’s impact on the properties of PMMA. Filler concentrations varied from 0.0 to 8.0 wt. %. The 2.0 wt. % composite demonstrated the most favorable impact on strength (28.5% in tensile and 27.3% in flexural loadings), whereas the 8.0 wt. % composite exhibited the greatest enhancement in stiffness (47.2% Young’s modulus increase). New nanocomposites for MEX AM are presented, promoting sustainability and enhancing mechanical performance at the same time.