Engineering students learn
sustainable manufacturing processes
Students use recycled plastics to develop new products using
sustainable practices in Western Michigan University's Plastic Lab.
sustainable practices in Western Michigan University's Plastic Lab.
|
Photo: Da'Chelle Burnett
|
By Da’Chelle Burnett
As the wind whips around a flying Frisbee as it is transferred in the air from one player to another, it often doesn’t cross people’s minds how the Frisbee was made.
Using plastic parts of lesser value, virgin plastic and recycled plastic, Western Michigan University engineering students are able to create Frisbee-like plastic discs and license plates in the Plastics Processing Lab at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Most of the plastic used to create these products are recycled plastics, obtained at somewhat of a profit, because the plastic used rarely gets separated because of the difficulty involved. This is the plastic often viewed as trash. Plastic wrappings, bags and Styrofoam are all examples of these “valueless” pieces.
“If you want to do the best job, you ought to look at everything in trash cans as opportunities,” said Paul Engelmann, WMU professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The Frisbee-creating process in the plastics lab at WMU begins by students organizing recycled plastic leftovers. Next, they use a grinder to chop up all pieces of plastic. Finally, they use an injection molding technique to transfer the grinded pieces into Frisbee-like discs.
Engelmann teaches students in his plastic manufacturing and processing course about the possible products that can be made using this process.
“My goal has been to demonstrate a process by making something useful, so people will keep it,” Engelmann said.
He said he teaches about the three kinds of profitable recycled plastics: source separated (pure), modified pure stream and commingled resins.
Students follow a process similar to a commingled resins process. Commingled resins are essentially plastics that are used with fewer modifications and plastics that can’t be separated during the organization of recycling process, Engelmann said.. Students use materials with fewer modifications, and then give those materials higher value, he said.
Another product made by students in Engelmann’s lab is a plastic Western Michigan University license plate.
“For the organization I’m a part of, we are finishing a car to compete in national races,” said Senior Engineering Student Andrea Stephan. “The license plate was the simplest task on the vehicle, but also a very interesting component because of its process.”
Students used a virgin sheet of plastic [grinded plastic pieces that were never used, created into a long smooth strip], cut the license plate structure, and branded Western Michigan University onto it. This process is known as thermoforming.
As the wind whips around a flying Frisbee as it is transferred in the air from one player to another, it often doesn’t cross people’s minds how the Frisbee was made.
Using plastic parts of lesser value, virgin plastic and recycled plastic, Western Michigan University engineering students are able to create Frisbee-like plastic discs and license plates in the Plastics Processing Lab at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Most of the plastic used to create these products are recycled plastics, obtained at somewhat of a profit, because the plastic used rarely gets separated because of the difficulty involved. This is the plastic often viewed as trash. Plastic wrappings, bags and Styrofoam are all examples of these “valueless” pieces.
“If you want to do the best job, you ought to look at everything in trash cans as opportunities,” said Paul Engelmann, WMU professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The Frisbee-creating process in the plastics lab at WMU begins by students organizing recycled plastic leftovers. Next, they use a grinder to chop up all pieces of plastic. Finally, they use an injection molding technique to transfer the grinded pieces into Frisbee-like discs.
Engelmann teaches students in his plastic manufacturing and processing course about the possible products that can be made using this process.
“My goal has been to demonstrate a process by making something useful, so people will keep it,” Engelmann said.
He said he teaches about the three kinds of profitable recycled plastics: source separated (pure), modified pure stream and commingled resins.
Students follow a process similar to a commingled resins process. Commingled resins are essentially plastics that are used with fewer modifications and plastics that can’t be separated during the organization of recycling process, Engelmann said.. Students use materials with fewer modifications, and then give those materials higher value, he said.
Another product made by students in Engelmann’s lab is a plastic Western Michigan University license plate.
“For the organization I’m a part of, we are finishing a car to compete in national races,” said Senior Engineering Student Andrea Stephan. “The license plate was the simplest task on the vehicle, but also a very interesting component because of its process.”
Students used a virgin sheet of plastic [grinded plastic pieces that were never used, created into a long smooth strip], cut the license plate structure, and branded Western Michigan University onto it. This process is known as thermoforming.
|
Photo: Da'Chelle Burnett
|
Engelmann said plastic lumber is often used to create picnic tables, children toys and other useful products all are made from a commingled resin format.
“If we want this to really work nationally, we have to get the cost to where it’s do-able –it’s economics,” Engelmann said.
The Frisbee-like plastic discs and license plates created each semester by these WMU students are free to members of the WMU community.
“It’s amazing how plastics are ridiculously reversible,” WMU student Andrew Chinarian said. “I would’ve never known about these things if I hadn’t had a friend who studies at the Parkview campus.”
Engelmann said he would like to expand awareness of plastic lumber, the free Frisbee-like discs and license plates made by the engineering students and expand national participation in the efficient recycled plastics process.
“I am continued to be frustrated by the lack of recycling,” Engelmann said. “I keep hope that we do little things. And when everyone does something, it will make a difference.”
“If we want this to really work nationally, we have to get the cost to where it’s do-able –it’s economics,” Engelmann said.
The Frisbee-like plastic discs and license plates created each semester by these WMU students are free to members of the WMU community.
“It’s amazing how plastics are ridiculously reversible,” WMU student Andrew Chinarian said. “I would’ve never known about these things if I hadn’t had a friend who studies at the Parkview campus.”
Engelmann said he would like to expand awareness of plastic lumber, the free Frisbee-like discs and license plates made by the engineering students and expand national participation in the efficient recycled plastics process.
“I am continued to be frustrated by the lack of recycling,” Engelmann said. “I keep hope that we do little things. And when everyone does something, it will make a difference.”
|
Photo: Da'Chelle Burnett
|