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Resource efficiency and environmental impact of fiber reinforced plastic processing technologies

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Abstract

The process energy demand and the environmental indicators of two carbon fiber reinforced plastic process chains have been investigated. More precisely, the impact of different production set-ups for a standard textile preforming process using bindered non-crimp fabric (NCF) and a material efficient 2D dry-fiber-placement (DFP) process are analyzed. Both 2D preforms are activated by an infrared heating system and formed in a press. The resin-transfer-molding (RTM) technology is selected for subsequent processing. Within a defined process window, the main parameters influencing the process energy demand are identified. Varying all parameters, a reduction of 77% or an increase of 700% of the electric energy consumption compared to a reference production set-up is possible, mainly depending on part size, thickness, and curing time. For a reference production set-up, carbon fiber production dominates the environmental indicators in the product manufacturing phase with a share of around 72–80% of the total global warming potential (GWP). Thus, the reduction of production waste, energy efficient carbon fiber production, and the use of renewable energy resources are the key environmental improvement levers. For the production of small and thin parts in combination with long curing cycles, the influence of the processing technologies is more pronounced. Whereas for a reference production set-up, only 10% (NCF–RTM) and 15% (DFP–RTM) of the total GWP are caused by the processing technologies, a production set-up leading to a high process energy demand results in a share of 40% (NCF–RTM) and 49% (DFP–RTM), respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This work is based on the results of the publicly funded project MAI Enviro 2.0 of the cluster of excellence MAI Carbon (funding code 03MAI38B). The Project is kindly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and supervised by the Project management Jülich (PtJ). The authors of this publication are responsible for its contents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fraunhofer IGCV, Am Technologiezentrum 2, 86159, Augsburg, Germany

    Andrea Hohmann, Bernhard Voringer & Klaus Drechsler

  2. Department Life Cycle Engineering GaBi, Fraunhofer IBP, Wankelstraße 5, 70563, Stuttgart, Germany

    Stefan Albrecht, Jan Paul Lindner & Philip Leistner

  3. Department Life Cycle Engineering GaBi, University of Stuttgart, IABP, Wankelstraße 5, 70563, Stuttgart, Germany

    Daniel Wehner & Philip Leistner

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, TU Munich, LCC, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching b. Munich, Germany

    Klaus Drechsler

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  1. Andrea Hohmann
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Correspondence to Andrea Hohmann.

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Hohmann, A., Albrecht, S., Lindner, J.P. et al. Resource efficiency and environmental impact of fiber reinforced plastic processing technologies. Prod. Eng. Res. Devel. 12, 405–417 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-018-0802-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-018-0802-7

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