A new paper from CHI 2025 proposes a technique that enables multi-material 3D prints to disassemble themselves by design, for the purpose of recycling.
The method uses water-soluble PVA to create interfaces between materials such as PLA and TPU, resulting in seams that can be broken down with a water bath at the end of the product’s life.
This would allow for materials to be recovered and reused, reducing both carbon emissions and the need for new plastics, whilst also enabling more intricate recycling of colours and composites that are not readily possible with standard recycling techniques.
The technique is primarily aimed at those with a serious interest in sustainability and computational fabrication.
