Project description
Green lipoic acid leads to recyclable photopolymer resins for 3D printing
Photopolymer additive manufacturing methods have become faster and more accurate over the years, but photopolymer resin technology still relies on petrochemical-based materials and produces waste that cannot be recycled. The ERC-funded CIRCLE-3D project aims to support the move to sustainable mass production of 3D-printed products, leveraging photocurable polymer resins from bio-based monomer sources and green manufacturing technologies. Renewably-sourced lipoic acid monomers will enable photocurable polymers that can be depolymerised at end of life to create virgin resin for reprinting. Furthermore, the bio-resin will enable on-demand production and recycling of challenging multi-layer mixed-plastic materials that, until now, have been minimally recyclable.
Objective
The high speed and accuracy of photopolymer additive manufacturing methods are enabling the transition of their use from prototyping to production. While these manufacturing methods have advanced significantly over recent years, this has not been matched by developments in photopolymer resin technology, which remains based on petrochemical sourced materials and produces waste that cannot be recycled. CIRCLIPO will deliver high modulus, photocurable polymers for application in production scale circular additive manufacturing. The materials design leverages renewably sourced, Lipoic acid, to generate materials that can be printed, and then depolymerised at the end of their useful life to recreate virgin resin that can be reprinted in a highly efficient closed-loop manner – eliminating waste. Targeting bio-based monomer sources and green manufacturing processes, CIRCLIPO will deliver materials that offer comparable or better mechanical properties to the market-leading resins. Beyond these advances, CIRCLIPO will also offer unique opportunities to sustainably exploit the potential of 3D-printed multimaterials. This will be achieved by enabling on demand production and recycling of mixed plastic multimaterials in a sustainable manner. CIRCLIPO will uniquely provide sustainable materials and production methods that will ensure that production-scale additive manufacturing is part of a truly sustainable and circular plastic economy, and avoid the environmental damage that results from unsustainable resins, wasteful processes and non-recyclable printed plastics. Finally, CIRCLIPO will evaluate the economic potential and environmental impact of the materials using technoeconomic analysis and life cycle analysis, which will also be used to guide materials and process development.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences chemical sciences physical chemistry photochemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- social sciences economics and business economics bioeconomy
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering additive manufacturing
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.