Environmental impact analysis of the injection molding process: Analysis of the processing of high-density polyethylene parts

Elduque, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Elduque, D. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Javierre, C. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Fernández, Á. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Santolaria, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This paper studies the environmental impact of the injection molding process by carrying out a life cycle assessment. A review of how EcoInvent''s Life Cycle Inventory database characterizes this process has been conducted, and a new methodology based on that analysis has been carried out. Aspects such as the infrastructure of the factory or waste treatment are part of the environmental impact of the injection molding process, but the most significant factor is electricity consumption; therefore, electricity consumption measurements of the process have been performed. This environmental analysis has been applied to the processing of several parts made of high-density polyethylene, which have been characterized by measuring the electricity consumption. As a consequence of this work, it has been proven that electricity consumption can be used as an injection molding machine selection criteria, from an environmental standpoint, as it produces the highest environmental burden of the process.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.119

Año: 2015

Publicado en: Journal of Cleaner Production 108 (2015), 80-89
ISSN: 0959-6526

Factor impacto JCR: 4.959 (2015)

Categ. JCR: GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY rank: 6 / 30 = 0.2 (2015) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES rank: 16 / 224 = 0.071 (2015) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL rank: 5 / 49 = 0.102 (2015) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.635 - Environmental Science (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Strategy and Management (Q1) - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment (Q1) - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Ingeniería Mecánica (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)
Área (Departamento): Área Ing. Procesos Fabricación (Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri.)