Calculating the embodied energy of recycled composites

Komal Kooduvalli, Georgiana Blue, Uday Vaidya, Soydan Ozcan

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies have become increasingly important for plastics and composites industries to estimate their sustainability impacts along the supply chain with opportunities to establish proper disposal and treatment methods in conjunction with meeting high energy demands associated with manufacturing. The total energy contained within the raw materials, processes, distribution and waste streams constitutes the Embodied Energy (EE) for a product or process whose application extends to composites, novel manufacturing techniques, thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. Products presented in this study undergo extrusion compression molding and recycling using an industrial shredder and get re-pelletized for use in the next generation. This paper helps visualize the underlying principles behind such calculations and offers a template for future sustainability reporting.

Original languageEnglish
StatePublished - 2018
Event5th Annual Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, CAMX 2018 - Dallas, United States
Duration: Oct 15 2018Oct 18 2018

Conference

Conference5th Annual Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, CAMX 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDallas
Period10/15/1810/18/18

Funding

This study was possible through the Materials and Processing Technology Area support of the Department of Energy (DOE), Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). The authors of this paper would like to acknowledge the involvement of several key contributors who offered support with processing plates, testing and procuring materials. Pritesh Yeole, Tyler Bonts, Hicham Ghossein, Kaustubh Mungale, Stephen Sheriff, Hayley Coughlin, Susan Schickling, Halil Tekinalp and Bowie Benson played significant roles assisting with procurement and processing both virgin and recycled plates mentioned in this study. Ryan Spencer has put in tremendous effort for the mechanical characterization of this ongoing project.

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