Environmental Assessment/Evaluation of 3D Printing and 3D Printing with Wood-PLA Composites - Case Study
In recent years, additive manufacturing has become a regular process in various industries, and consequently there is an increasing need to evaluate the environmental aspects of this technology and its associated materials. In this paper, comparative cradle-to-grave life cycle assessments between a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Drvna Industrija |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/454791 |
| Summary: | In recent years, additive manufacturing has become a regular process in various industries, and consequently there is an increasing need to evaluate the environmental aspects of this technology and its associated materials. In this paper, comparative cradle-to-grave life cycle assessments between a conventional product and a 3D-printed alternative made of polylactic acid (PLA) and PLA-wood material were investigated based on the standard ISO 14044:2006. The environmental impact of each product was quantified for 18 categories. The goal of life cycle assessment (LCA) was to determine whether the use of 3D printed PLA/PLA-wood products can be a sustainable alternative to traditional metal products. The paper presents a case study in which a comparative LCA was conducted. The results show that a metal part manufactured using conventional subtractive processes (milling, drilling, welding, etc.) has a higher environmental impact compared to 3D-printed alternatives made from renewable materials. However, there are many sub-issues that need to be adequately addressed. |
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| ISSN: | 0012-6772 1847-1153 |