FG Polymerbasierter Leichtbau
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With the growing urbanized population, vertical farming becomes indispensable in eradicating hunger and ensuring food security for the future. Food security has become a major challenge for the future owing to the scarcity of land, rising global population, urbanization, and polluted soil and water resources. In this scenario, vertical farming as an innovative food production technology caters increased productivity with limited resources and improved carbon footprint. The review begins with a brief introduction to the concept of vertical farming, its opportunities and implications on the economy, environment, and society as a whole, following with an in-depth qualitative analysis of the cutting-edge innovations/technologies are presented in detail. Contrary to the numerous research focusing on mere analysis of economic viability and statistical analysis, the aim is to introduce real cutting-edge technologies that address the challenges of vertical farms such as lack of technical skills or energy requirements. The recent advances of vertical farms includes construction of outer vertical structure and growing shelves using light weight and transparent polymer composites, engineered and tunable LEDs lightings, 3-D printed and recyclable growing substrates, AI-integrated IoTs for environment control, harvesting materials for renewable energy storage etc. Such material innovations with inclusion of AI and robotics transform automated vertical farming into ‘state of the art’ agricultural technology. Production shelf fabricated using UV cured GBOV-glass fiber composite with 60% transparency can overcome the material weight limitation, corrosion, light obstructions etc. associated with the conventional steel shelves. Replacing non-renewable fossil fuels using renewable energy harvested by carbon dots, fluorescent materials, and perovskite solar cells is recommended to minimize the high capital investments associated with energy as well as to reduce the environmental impact. Smart materials such as phase change materials and thermoresponsive windows control the amount of energy expended whereas smart substrate promotes resource management. Application of the newest technology AI in vertical farming facilitates precise control of environment, early pest detection, automation of farming processes, data-driven decision making and precision agriculture. In short, vertical farms utilizing modern innovations of science and technology caters enhanced productivity, improved quality, reduced cost, resource management and sustainability. Hence, automated and sustainable vertical farms promoting global food security and circularity have the potential to transform into burgeoning technology of future.
Efficient recycling pathway of bio-based composite polyurethane foams via sustainable diamine
(2024)
Aminolysis is widely recognized as a valuable chemical route for depolymerizing polymeric materials containing ester, amide, or urethane functional groups, including polyurethane foams. Bio-based polyurethane foams, pristine and reinforced with 40 wt% of sustainable fillers, were depolymerized in the presence of bio-derived butane-1,4-diamine, BDA. A process comparison was made using fossil-derived ethane-1,2-diamine, EDA, by varying amine/polyurethane ratio (F/A, 1:1 and 1:0.6). The obtained depolymerized systems were analyzed by FTIR and NMR characterizations to understand the effect of both diamines on the degradation pathway. The use of bio-based BDA seemed to be more effective with respect to conventional EDA, owing to its stronger basicity (and thus higher nucleophilicity), corresponding to faster depolymerization rates. BDA-based depolymerized systems were then employed to prepare second-generation bio-based composite polyurethane foams by partial replacement of isocyanate components (20 wt%). The morphological, mechanical, and thermal conductivity properties of the second-generation polyurethane foams were evaluated. The best performances (σ10 %=71 ± 9 kPa, λ = 0.042 ± 0.015 W∙ m-1 ∙K-1) were attained by employing the lowest F/A ratio (1:0.6); this demonstrates their potential application in different sectors such as packaging or construction, fulfilling the paradigm of the circular economy.
A review, with 32 refs., of various new proposals for recycling and reusing of wind turbine blades by small companies (including the Polish Anmet company). New projects on shredding blades as well as on architecture objects, road construction, geotechn. blocks, floating platforms and observation towers were presented. Prodn. of composite chipboard panels and recovery of carbon fibers by waste pyrolysis were also included.
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components are known for their exceptional resilience and ultra-lightweight nature, making them the preferred choice for applications requiring high mechanical loads with minimal weight. However, the intricate and anisotropic structure of CFRP components poses challenges, resulting in expensive repairs and testing. This complexity also leads to increased waste generation. Yet, innovative recycling processes offer a solution by reintegrating carbon components into a closed material cycle, promoting sustainability and circular economy principles. This work focuses on recycled CFs (rCFs) obtained through a continuous recycling method for CFRP primary recyclate from composite pressure vessel. Furthermore, re-purposing of the separated matrix material for secondary energy sources makes the process, a 100% recycling route. This closed-loop approach addresses conventional pyrolysis challenges and contributes to more efficient utilization of CFRP waste components. rCF and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) polymers were compounded through an extrusion process. Test specimens were then fabricated according to standard test norms to evaluate the resulting tensile and bending properties. The tensile and flexural modulus of the rCF-rPET obtained are 6.80 and 4.99 GPa, respectively. The need for enhancing the quality of rCF is apparent. Suggestive and potential implications and the marketability of rCF-rPET compounds are also discussed.
Modern material-compatible joining methods for fiber-reinforced plastics require the heating of the materials. In order to predict the respective complex temperature fields and curves, the Fraunhofer IAP and the BTU
Cottbus-Senftenberg have developed numerical methods, which are able to simulate different radiation sources and process sequences as well.
Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) offer great lightweight construction potential. However, the anisotropic high-performance materials can only be fully utilized through the development of material-specific joining processes. A literature study shows that conventional methods such as screwing, riveting and bolting are unsuitable, since the load-bearing fibers are severed in the joining region. This leads to high-stress concentrations. To reduce these, a method is presented in which through holes are created in thermoplastic FRP by reorienting the fibers in this area around the point of disruption in accordance with the load path. For this purpose, the polymer matrix is softened locally by applying heat and penetrated with a needle or mandrel. Based on this, a technology for material-specific joining of FRP and metals has been developed in the form of thermomechanical flow drill joining. In this process, a mandrel forms a bush from the metal component and deflects the fibers of the locally softened organic sheet to suit the material. Cold metal transfer (CMT) pin welding is presented as another fully automatable joining process. In this method, the softened plastic component is penetrated with the welding wire, displacing the fibers in the joining area and realigning them to suit the load path.
Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) owing to its excellent properties have found its extensive application in various fields ranging from medical to automobile and aerospace industries. This has thereby led to ever-increasing demand of carbon fiber production and as well as resulting in tonnes of carbon fiber wastes in the landfills [5]. Due to the high positive impacts of using carbon fibers, the energy intensive and cost intensive production of virgin fibers and the growing landfills are often overlooked. Hence, the need for recycling and repurposing of carbon fiber wastes have gained the significance at present day. Although various recycling technologies have been developed yet, various challenges are faced with processing of recycled carbon fibers (rCF). Besides, the desired application specific properties are not compromised for high cost and high-energy requirement. Therefore, an overall development of processing rCF is sought from not only
a sustainability point but also an economic point. Various efficient recycling technologies are currently operating. The challenges arises in commercializing the recycled fibers after the recycling process. The recycled fibers often require various post-processing of fibers and
undergoes fiber degradation. This induces a skeptical mindset for the buyers to introduce the recycled fibers in the material ecosystem. This paper currently discusses the processing challenges of long rCF in a compounding plant. To form a closed loop, the recycled fibers
are obtained from the novel thermocatalytic degassing process from the CFRP recycling pioneers in Germany, Global EnerTec AG, Guben. This plant in Guben not only recycles carbon fibers from automotive CFRP wastes but also repurposes the epoxy matrices into secondary energy sources. This paper focuses in investigating the processing of rCF obtained from a 100% recycling technology. The aim is to investigate the possible technical challenges so that the rCF can be repurposed to new product manufacturing. Thereby, addressing the concerns with the development of closed loop circular economy in recycling CFRP wastes.
Neuartige, werkstoffgerechte Fügeverfahren für Faserkunststoffverbunde setzen die Erwärmung der Materialien voraus. Um die damit verbundenen komplexen Temperaturfelder und -verläufe vorherzusagen, haben das Fraunhofer IAP und die BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg numerische Verfahren entwickelt. Mit diesen können auch verschiedene Strahlungsquellen und Prozessabläufe simuliert werden.