{"id":626,"date":"2024-02-18T22:38:35","date_gmt":"2024-02-18T22:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/groups\/material\/?p=626"},"modified":"2024-02-18T22:38:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T22:38:35","slug":"acrylics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/courses\/material\/2024\/02\/18\/acrylics\/","title":{"rendered":"Acrylics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Acrylic plastic is a commonly used material at ITP\/IMA to create prototypes or different elements of projects. Chemically, it is known at polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and like many other plastics, is made from petroleum. The process of making acrylic plastic is an energy intensive process because high temperatures and pressure is needed to create polymers. To produce 1 kg of acrylic, 2 kg of oil is required, and approximately 6 kg of CO2 is released into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acrylic is not a very sustainable material choice because it can take up to 200 years for it to decompose and also releases greenhouse gasses and toxic chemicals into the environment. It is possible to recycle it but most companies do not because the process of depolymerization can take a lot of energy and be dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the alternatives?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for easy off-the-shelf options that are more sustainable than virgin acrylics, there are two kinds of recycled acrylics: chemically recycled acrylics; and mechanically recycled acrylics. Below are some options that we’ve identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemically recycled acrylics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

[+ brief description on what is chemically recycled acrylics]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-the-shelf, look and feel like the virgin acrylic you know and love<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delvie’s Plastics Eco Green<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Only in clear, 1\/8 inch thickness. 12 x 24 inches for less than $10!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy it here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recrylic<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Comes in clear, white, and black. Custom colors are a possibility as well! Thicknesses vary. At the moment, it can only be bought in large quantities, but might still be a relevant resource for some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find more information here<\/a> and don’t hesitate to reach out for samples or quotes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Cast<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

bla bla bla<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.greencastus.com\/new-page-1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mechanically recycled plastic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mechanical recycling is the process of collecting, sorting, cleaning, shredding, and reforming plastic using heat. Mechanically recycling plastic waste can be a fun, accessible, and guilt-free way to use plastic material in your art practice and make something beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tandon MakerSpace across the street from ITP has a plastic shredder and pizza oven and they currently support making plastic sheets out of PLA scraps. They built the shredder following the curriculum from the non-profit Precious Plastics<\/a>. They provide resources and design files to start your own plastic recycling system and all the design files needed to build the machines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kay Wasil from Yeseul’s Sustainable Material Research Lab<\/em> class created this ready-to-wear corset by ironing together plastic shopping bags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are other great makers out there, like Brother’s Make<\/a>, who take plastic recycling to a whole other level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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