Abstract:
Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials have become quite common around the world in numerous applications. The corresponding expansion in synthetic polymer production has led to increasing problems of recycling and resource identification. Hence, it has become imperative to uncover the 'environmental credentials' of the FRP composite materials. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a technique that provides a thorough perspective on the environmental impacts and the various hazards related to a product and its processes. While LCA has been carried out extensively on products made of conventional materials, assessment of products made of composite materials are still rare. An overview of the available information on LCA of products made of composite materials, in three major industries, automobile, packaging and construction is presented. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
