Identification of the Environmental Impact of Polyurethane Foams Using Ansys Granta Selector

1

Gdynia Maritime University, 81-87 Morska Str., 81-225 Gdynia, Poland, Faculty of Management and Quality Sciences, Department of Industrial Product Quality and Chemistry, e-mail: a.piotrowska-kirschling@au.umg.edu.pl

2

Gdynia Maritime University, 81-87 Morska Str., 81-225 Gdynia, Poland, Faculty of Management and Quality Sciences, Department of Industrial Product Quality and Chemistry

Abstract: 

Before a new polymer material is placed on the market, it should be compulsory to assess its environmental impact at different stages of its life cycle. The main objective of the study was to identify the environmental impact of the production of polyurethane (PUR) foams. Ansys Granta Selector software was used to analyze this aspect. The environmental characteristic of material production included: embodied energy [MJ/kg], CO2 footprint [kg/kg], and water usage [l/kg]. The Eco Audits of PUR foams, based on natural fillers, were investigated. The study showed that PURs generate significantly less CO2 at the production stage compared to other foams. Furthermore, the modification of PUR foams can reduce the CO2 footprint.

Keywords: 
polyurethane foams, eco audit, environmental characteristic, CO2 footprint, ansys granta selector.
Issue: 
Pages: 
56
67
Accepted: 
25.05.2022
Published: 
30.06.2022
Download full text in pdf: 

This article is an open access article distributed under a Creative Commoms Attribution (CCBY 4.0) licence

References: 

Alma, M.H., Salan, T., Tozluoglu, A., Gonultas, O., Candan, Z., 2017, 1. Green Composite Materials from Liquefied Biomass, [in:] Davim J.P. (ed.), Green Composites: Materials, Manufacturing and Engineering, pp. 1-32.

Ansys website, https://www.ansys.com/products/materials/granta-selector (02.02.2022).

Ashby, M.F., 2013, Materials and the Environment: Eco-Informed Material Choice, Elsevier Inc., USA.

Bonaccorsi, L., Bruzzaniti, P., Calabrese, L., Freni, A., Proverbio, E., Restuccia, G., 2013, Synthesis of SAPO-34 on Graphite Foams for Adsorber Heat Exchangers, Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 848–852.

Brzeska, J., Tercjak, A., Sikorska, W., Mendrek, B., Kowalczuk, M., Rutkowska, M., 2021, Degradability of Polyurethanes and Their Blends with Polylactide, Chitosan and Starch, Polymers, vol. 13, no. 8.

Ertekin, Y., Nicoleta, I., Chiou, R., 2014, Integrating Eco-Design in Manufacturing Materials and Processes Related Courses – Material Selection for Sustainable Design Using CES-EduPack and SolidWorks, Conference Proceedings, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition.

Gradin, K.T., Astrom, A.H., 2018, Evaluation of an Eco Audit Tool – through an LCA of a Novel Car Disc Brake, Proceedings of NordDesign: Design in the Era of Digitalization, NordDesign.

Luna-Tintos, J.F., Cobreros, C., Lopez-Escamilla, A., Herrera-Limones, R., Torres-Garcia, M., 2020, Methodology to Evaluate the Embodied Primary Energy and CO2 Production at Each Stage of the Life Cycle of Prefabricated Structural Systems: The Case of the Solar Decathlon Competition, Energies, vol. 13, no. 17.

Mella, P., 2022, Global Warming: Is it (im)Possible to Stop It? The Systems Thinking Approach, Energies, vol. 15, no. 3, 705, pp. 1–33.

Rehman, A., Ma, H., Ahmad, M., Irfan, M., Traore, O., Chandio, A.A., 2021, Towards Environmental Sustainability: Devolving the Influence of Carbon Dioxide Emission to Population Growth, Climate Change, Forestry, Livestock and Crops Production in Pakistan, Ecological Indicators, vol. 125, pp. 1–11.

Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Environmental Protection Agency, Report: “Life cycle assessment of grocery carrier bags”, https://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2018/02/978-87-93614-73-4.pdf (09.02.2022).

Sklenickova, K., Abbrent, S., Halecky, M., Koci, V., Benes, H., 2022, Biodegradability and Ecotoxicity of Polyurethane Foams: A Review, Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 157–202.

Statistaa website, https://www.statista.com/statistics/276629/global-co2-emissions/ (02.02.2022).

Statistab website, https://www.statista.com/statistics/270499/co2-emissions-in-selected-countries/ (02.02.2022).

Statistac website, https://www.statista.com/statistics/664906/plastics-production-volume-fo...­­wide/ (02.02.2022).

The Freedonia Group, 2006, Report: “Specialty foams—U.S. industry study, with forecasts to 2007 & 2012”, Freedonia.

Agnieszka Piotrowska-Kirschling

Citation pattern: Piotrowska-Kirschling A., Brzeska J., Identification of the Environmental Impact of Polyurethane Foams Using Ansys Granta Selector, Scientific Journal of Gdynia Maritime University, No. 122, pp. 56-67, 2022

BibTeX     EndNote