Life cycle assessment of nanocomposite manufactured using ultrasonic stir casting

The foundry industry is increasingly feeling the heat of the narrowing climate change-related regulations on a global level and is being labelled as a dirty industry. With an aim to analyse the environmentally sustainable functioning of modern foundries, the presented study has been conducted. It evaluates the manufacturing process of an aluminium & titanium-based metal matrix nanocomposite prepared using the stir casting technique. The life cycle assessment has been performed with ReCiPe 2016 endpoint (H) and midpoint (H) approaches. The overall engenderment process has been divided into four subdivisions, namely aluminium procurement subdivision (SD1), TiO2 nanoparticle procurement subdivision (SD2), mould fabrication & procurement subdivision (SD3), and nanocomposite fabrication subdivision (SD4). The outcome of the impact assessment reveals that when considering the endpoint approach, the SD4 accounts for 70.34% of the total impact score followed by SD1 at 26.08%, while SD2 and SD3 contributed frivolously at 0.05 and 3.52%, respectively. Furthermore, utilizing the ReCiPe midpoint method, it has been revealed that SD4 contributes 56.37% of the overall impact while SD1, SD2, and SD3 contribute 36.34, 0.04, and 7.25%, respectively. From the end-of-life point of view, it has been ascertained that about 75.34% of the impact arises from the product phase while 24.66% comes from waste treatment. Furthermore, it has additionally been highlighted that a shift from coal-predicated electricity generation to renewable sources such as hydro-electric, wind, or solar shall play a vital role in revoking its detrimental effects. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

This study analyzes the environmental sustainability of modern foundries and evaluates the manufacturing process of an aluminum-based and titanium-based metal matrix nanocomposite using stir casting technique. The results show that the fabrication process of the nanocomposite has the highest environmental impact in the industry, and it is suggested that a shift to renewable energy sources will play a vital role in mitigating these effects.