Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. A life cycle analysis of novel lightweight composite processes: Reducing the environmental footprint of automotive structures
 
research article

A life cycle analysis of novel lightweight composite processes: Reducing the environmental footprint of automotive structures

Wegmann, Stephanie
•
Rytka, Christian
•
Diaz-Rodenas, Mariona
Show more
January 1, 2022
Journal Of Cleaner Production

In this study, three novel thermoplastic impregnation processes were analyzed towards automotive applications. The first process is thermoplastic compression resin transfer molding in which a glass fiber mat is impregnated in through thickness by a thermoplastic polymer. The second process is a melt-thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process in which the glass fibers are impregnated in plane with the help of a spacer. The third process, stamp forming of hybrid bicomponent fibers, coats the fibers individually during the glass fiber production. The coated fibers are used to produce a fabric, which is then further processed by stamp forming. These three processes were compared in a life cycle analysis (LCA) against conventional resin compression resin transfer molding with either glass or carbon fibers and metal processes with either steel or aluminum that can be new, partly or fully recycled using the case study of the production, life and disposal of a car bonnet. The presented LCA includes the main phases of the process: extraction and preparation of the raw materials, production and preparation of the mold, process, and energy losses. To include the life of the analyzed bonnet, the amount of diesel that is used to drive the weight of the bonnet for 300 ' 000 km is calculated. In this LCA, the disposal of the bonnet is integrated by analyzing the used energy for the recycling and the incineration. The results show the potential of the developed thermoplastic impregnation processes producing automobile parts, as the used energy producing a thermoplastic bonnet is in the same range as the steel production.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129808
Web of Science ID

WOS:000729826600002

Author(s)
Wegmann, Stephanie
•
Rytka, Christian
•
Diaz-Rodenas, Mariona
•
Werlen, Vincent
•
Schneeberger, Christoph
•
Ermanni, Paolo
•
Caglar, Baris  
•
Gomez, Colin  
•
Michaud, Veronique  
Date Issued

2022-01-01

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Published in
Journal Of Cleaner Production
Volume

330

Article Number

129808

Subjects

Green & Sustainable Science & Technology

•

Engineering, Environmental

•

Environmental Sciences

•

Science & Technology - Other Topics

•

Engineering

•

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

•

lca

•

lci

•

mobility

•

composite polymer processing

•

lightweight construction

•

energy saving

•

thermoplastic impregnation processes

•

fuel consumption

•

energy

•

performance

•

aluminum

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LPAC  
Available on Infoscience
January 31, 2022
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/184970
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés