Sustainability analysis on polymers using life cycle assessment tool (OPENLCA)

Abstract

Life cycle assessment of plastics provides detailed environmental impacts. Major electronic component housings are made by ABS plastic. The degradation span of ABS plastic is about 1000 years. Instead of ABS plastic the PLA polymer can be used because of ease of degradation. PLA polymer is made by natural resources and degradation span is 4-5 years. The sustainability tool called open LCA is used to assess the environmental impact of both PLA and ABS and mechanical tests are conducted to compare the mechanical properties of PLA and ABS. This test gives the comparison of the environment impact assessment of polylactic acid polymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymers, polyether ether ketone polymer & polyethylene terephthalate polymers.