Special Issue "The Sustainability Challenges in Polymer Composite Materials: Bio-Based Materials, Recycling, and Life Cycle"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Resources and Sustainable Utilization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco L. Longana
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Bristol Composites Institute, University of Bristol, Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
Interests: recycling; sustainable composites; life cycle engineering; bio-based constituents; circular economy; automated manufacturing functionalised composites
Dr. Angela D. La Rosa
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 1, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Interests: life cycle assessment; bio-based; recyclable matrices
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Linn Berglund
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wood and Bionanocomposite group, Luleå University of Technology, 97187 Luleå, Sweden
Interests: wood and bionanocomposites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The 12th Sustainable Development Goal, set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 and intended to be achieved by 2030, is to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”. Though polymer composite materials, with their high specific mechanical properties and environmental resistance, are an effective weight-saving solution, they are generally traditionally oil-based, obtained through energy-intensive and resource-demanding processes and hardly recyclable. To be able to meet our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, it is necessary to implement, and unequivocally evaluate, sustainable scientific and technical solutions and implement the circular economy model.

This Special Issue of Sustainability is dedicated to the work of research groups around the world in the field of composite materials and is open to, but not only, articles regarding the following topics:

  • Bio-based and naturally sourced raw materials (e.g., natural fibres, bio-resins and 100% natural composites), their mechanical or functional behaviour, their environmental resistance and the related production and manufacturing processes.
  • Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Engineering studies aimed at investigating the environmental impact of traditional and novel composite materials.
  • Recycling of polymer composites, from the current advancements in the reclamation and remanufacturing processes of traditional materials to the development of a next generation of more readily recyclable materials and relative processes.
  • Technical solutions to favour the implementation of the Circular Economy, i.e., material selection and design approaches to repair, reuse and recycle composite material structures.
  • Environmental impact reduction of composites through the identification of new raw material sources, the development of less energy-demanding manufacturing processes and the reduction of ancillary materials usage.

The overall ambition of this Special Issue is to propose a holistic view of the lifecycle of polymer composites and to promote the choice of more sustainable solutions.

Dr. Marco L. Longana
Dr. Angela D. La Rosa
Dr. Linn Berglund
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Recycling, Reclamation & Remanufacturing
  • Life Cycle Engineering & Life Cycle Assessment
  • Circular Economy
  • Bio-based Constituents, Natural Fibres & Bio-resins
  • Recyclable and biodegradable materials
  • Design for Sustainability

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

Article
Circular Design of Composite Products: A Framework Based on Insights from Literature and Industry
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137223 - 28 Jun 2021
Viewed by 607
Abstract
Composite materials are an attractive material choice as they enable lightweight, low-maintenance products with a long lifespan. Recycling these materials, however, remains a challenge. Homogeneous material composition and the use of thermoset matrices complicate reprocessing, and result in low-grade recyclate. This means that [...] Read more.
Composite materials are an attractive material choice as they enable lightweight, low-maintenance products with a long lifespan. Recycling these materials, however, remains a challenge. Homogeneous material composition and the use of thermoset matrices complicate reprocessing, and result in low-grade recyclate. This means that closing the loop for these materials in a circular economy remains challenging, especially for glass fibre-reinforced thermoset composites. For a circular economy, products need to be designed to preserve product functionality, material properties, and economic value for as long as possible. However, recovery strategies, design aspects and their interconnectedness are currently largely unexplored for products containing fibre-reinforced polymers. The aim of this study was to identify circular strategies and determine design aspects for products containing composites. To achieve this, we conducted a systematic literature review and consulted experts. The circular strategies are largely similar to generic circular economy strategies as far as product integrity is concerned. However, on a material level, we identified additional approaches, the most notable of which is structural reuse, which preserves the material quality and thereby value. The design aspects were clustered and positioned along the product design process to support implementation. Finally, the strategies and design aspects we identified were brought together in a framework to support product design and design research for products containing composite materials in the context of a circular economy. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

Review
A Life Cycle Engineering Perspective on Biocomposites as a Solution for a Sustainable Recovery
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031160 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1103
Abstract
Composite materials, such as carbon fibre reinforced epoxies, provide more efficient structures than conventional materials through light-weighting, but the associated high energy demand during production can be extremely detrimental to the environment. Biocomposites are an emerging material class with the potential to reduce [...] Read more.
Composite materials, such as carbon fibre reinforced epoxies, provide more efficient structures than conventional materials through light-weighting, but the associated high energy demand during production can be extremely detrimental to the environment. Biocomposites are an emerging material class with the potential to reduce a product’s through-life environmental impact relative to wholly synthetic composites. As with most materials, there are challenges and opportunities with the adoption of biocomposites at the each stage of the life cycle. Life Cycle Engineering is a readily available tool enabling the qualification of a product’s performance, and environmental and financial impact, which can be incorporated in the conceptual development phase. Designers and engineers are beginning to actively include the environment in their workflow, allowing them to play a significant role in future sustainability strategies. This review will introduce Life Cycle Engineering and outline how the concept can offer support in the Design for the Environment, followed by a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of biocomposites throughout their life cycle. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop