9.3 Materials Selection for Sustainability

Materials selection in manufacturing involves balancing environmental impacts with sustainability criteria. From raw material extraction to product disposal, each stage affects resources, emissions, and waste. Manufacturers must consider renewable content, energy efficiency, durability, recyclability, and toxicity when choosing materials.

Selecting materials requires navigating trade-offs between properties, cost, and environmental performance. Mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties must be weighed against economic factors and sustainability metrics. Life cycle assessments help quantify impacts, guiding decisions that balance functionality, affordability, and eco-friendliness.

Environmental Impacts and Sustainability Criteria in Materials Selection

Environmental impacts of manufacturing materials

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• Raw material extraction and processing
  • Depletes non-renewable resources (fossil fuels, minerals)
  • Destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity (deforestation, mining)
  • Consumes energy and emits greenhouse gases (CO2, methane)
  • Uses water and causes pollution (chemical runoff, sedimentation)
  • Pollutes air and soil (particulate matter, heavy metals)
• Manufacturing processes
  • Consumes energy and emits greenhouse gases (electricity, heat)
  • Uses water and causes pollution (cooling water, wastewater)
  • Generates hazardous waste (solvents, chemicals)
  • Pollutes air and soil (volatile organic compounds, solid waste)
• Transportation and distribution
  • Consumes fuel and emits greenhouse gases (trucks, ships)
  • Pollutes air (nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide)
• Product use and disposal
  • Affects durability and longevity (wear, corrosion)
  • Influences energy efficiency (insulation, conductivity)
  • Determines recyclability and biodegradability (material compatibility)
  • Generates toxicity and hazardous waste (leaching, off-gassing)

Sustainability criteria for material selection

• Renewable and recycled content
  • Uses materials from renewable sources (bamboo, hemp)
  • Incorporates recycled content (post-consumer, post-industrial)
• Energy efficiency
  • Minimizes embodied energy in materials (aluminum, steel)
  • Reduces energy consumption during manufacturing (process optimization)
  • Improves energy efficiency during product use (insulation, lightweight)
• Durability and longevity
  • Resists wear, corrosion, and fatigue (stainless steel, ceramics)
  • Enables easy maintenance and repair (modular design, standard parts)
• Recyclability and biodegradability
  • Allows easy disassembly and separation (snap-fit, labeling)
  • Fits with existing recycling infrastructure (PET, HDPE)
  • Biodegrades in natural environments (PLA, cellulose)
• Toxicity and hazardous substances
  • Avoids toxic chemicals and heavy metals (lead, mercury)
  • Complies with regulations (REACH, RoHS)

Trade-offs in Material Choices

Trade-offs in material properties, cost, and environmental performance

• Mechanical properties
  • Balances strength, stiffness, and toughness (composites, alloys)
  • Considers density and weight (aluminum, titanium)
  • Weighs trade-offs with cost and environmental impacts (steel vs. carbon fiber)
• Thermal and electrical properties
  • Selects for conductivity and insulation (copper, silicone)
  • Ensures resistance to heat and fire (ceramics, fiberglass)
  • Evaluates trade-offs with cost and environmental impacts (aluminum vs. plastic)
• Chemical properties
  • Chooses resistance to corrosion and degradation (stainless steel, PTFE)
  • Verifies compatibility with other materials (gaskets, sealants)
  • Assesses trade-offs with cost and environmental impacts (PVC vs. TPE)
• Cost considerations
  1. Compares raw material costs (commodity prices, availability)
  2. Estimates manufacturing and processing costs (equipment, labor)
  3. Calculates transportation and distribution costs (fuel, packaging)
  4. Analyzes trade-offs with environmental performance (recycled vs. virgin)
• Environmental performance
  • Conducts life cycle assessment (LCA) (cradle-to-grave, ISO 14040)
  • Measures carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e, GWP)
  • Quantifies water footprint and pollution (eutrophication, acidification)
  • Examines trade-offs with material properties and cost (bioplastics vs. conventional)