Life Cycle Assessment Contribution in the Product Development Process: Case Study of Wood Aluminum-Laminated Panel

Abstract

The benefits of aluminum lamination in improving the physical and mechanical properties of wood-based composites is now well documented. This paper shows the contribution of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a tool to assess and compare the environmental footprint in the development of laminated panels. SimaPro 9.0 software, using Ecoinvent database was used to analyze the environmental impacts associated with the manufacturing of wood aluminum-laminated (WAL) panels and aluminum honeycomb panel (AHP). The impact 2002+ method was used to estimate environmental impacts. The LCA results show that the WAL panels manufacturing had a lower environmental impact than AHP manufacturing. In term of product, wood-based composites were the best choice as a core in laminated panel manufacturing. Wood-based composite manufacturing showed environmental advantages in all damage categories except in ecosystem quality. Aluminum alloy sheets manufacturing played an important role in the generation of environmental impacts for laminated panel development.

An Integrated Analysis With Life Cycle Assessment, Building Information Modeling, and Environmental Performance for Window Materials: Assiut University Hospital Clinic as a Case Study

“…67 and a neglected impact of 0.508 for the wood industry. Based on Segovia et al and Nunez et al [57], [58], the carcinogens category represented 66-78% of the total contributing emissions for the wood industry and 100% of the aluminum industry contributions. It could explain why the aluminum industry scored 1.14 and the wood industry scored 0.178 .…”

Environmental assessment of discarded plastic caps as a honeycomb core: An eco‐mechanical perspective

“…Further use of recycled aluminum skins in the hybrid designs can reduce the environmental impacts of FU 1 designs, as suggested by Segovia et al. (2019). The approach used by Le Duigou et al.…”

“…A reduced number of studies investigated the mechanical and environmental performance of sandwich panel designs (Le Duigou et al., 2012; Segovia et al., 2019). Le Duigou et al.…”

“…A reduced number of studies investigated the mechanical and environmental performance of sandwich panel designs (Le Duigou et al, 2012;Segovia et al, 2019). Le Duigou et al (2012) developed a cradle-to-gate LCA of a bio-sandwich panel made from flax skins and balsa core, comparing its performance with a glass fiber/balsa sandwich panel.…”

“…The FU was based on fixed sample dimensions (200 × 300 mm 2 ) and similar flexural rigidity in both designs. Segovia et al (2019) developed a cradle-to-gate LCA of sandwich panels with aluminum skins and different cores, such as wooden beams (for example, plywood) and aluminum honeycomb. The FU was a 1 m 2 sandwich panel with a minimum flexural strength of ∼ 59 MPa.…”