Environmental Impact of Washable Supports?
-
Anyone aware of any discussion around the environmental effects of washable supports? How do you normally dispose of the water once it has dissolved the support structure? Can the material be recovered and recycled from the water?
Thanks.
-
You have some good info here: http://cbm.msoe.edu/teacherWorkshops/printResources/documents/usingWaterPVA.pdf
It is biodegradable, the issue the source (oil).
As for the use, it could be good instead of glue stick. If you want to remove it from water, evaporate the water. -
While i am not sure about the modifications are made to PVA when it is used as support material, PVA itself is used in huge amounts in the building industry for example (and probably other places). I think the plasterer who just did a bit of our house used a 5l container!
-
Actually, it seems that glue is PVAc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_acetate and filament is PVA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_alcohol
So it is made from it, but not the same.
But I'm not sure if this is correct, since the name PVA is used for both.