Green polytronics

Due to the anticipated high economical relevance of polytronics (low cost, high volume, high innovation rates, short product life, exploding diversity of products), life-cycle engineering is required at an early stage of material and process development. The environmental effects of polytronics are highly variable depending as much on the stage of product life (material production, product assembly, use, and end of life) as on the type of the materials. Due to the expected widespread use of polymers in mobile products, an environmental assessment is necessary to get further criteria for the selection. The high complexity of life-cycle assessment using conventional methods is found to be exemplary for the production of epoxy resin, a versatile pre-product for many applications. Since ecological assessment is key for improvement and optimization, a simplified methodology for the regarded complex products and processes is essential. EE-Toolbox provides a screening method developed especially for electronic products, based on the material content. As polymer materials until now are only considered according to their content of certain additives, a new tool for environmental screening assessment of these materials is introduced. With regard to the need for CO/sub 2/ reduction and energy preservation, characteristic incineration values are used for rating. It is assumed that thermal pretreatment is a major disposal pathway, particularly for future mobile products. The environmental impact of polymer materials is expected to be much lower compared to that of heavy metals and their compounds. Thus, expectations are high for environmental benefits of polytronics, but further examinations are necessary.