Thermal Recovery of Functional Coatings (TReFCo)

Completed

Not Energy Related
Energy Efficiency(Industry)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr J Baker
Engineering
Swansea University

Standard

EPSRC

02 May 2022

01 September 2024

28 months

£1,005,537

Manufacturing

Wales

Manufacturing : Manufacturing

Dr J Baker, Engineering, Swansea University

Dr PA Anderson, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham
Dr M Davies, Engineering, Swansea University
Dr D Deganello, Engineering, Swansea University
Dr G D J Harper, Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham
Professor S Margadonna, Engineering, Swansea University

Project Contact, Elemental Inks & Chemicals
Project Contact, adphos Group (International)
Project Contact, PLUG LIFE CONSULTING LTD
Project Contact, Precision Varionic International Ltd PVi
Project Contact, Tata Group UK
Project Contact, WRAP
Project Contact, Keeling and Walker Limited

When devices such as computers, smart phones and batteries are sent for recycling not all of the materials are captured for use in new devices. The metals are most likely to be recycled because they are easy to separate and their methods of recycling are well established. Specialist coatings often made with rare and expensive materials enable our modern electronics to work. However these coatings often cause problems when it comes to recycling, they can mean that the metals are more contaminated and so these coatings are often burnt off, causing pollution and adding cost to the recycling process. It also means that the expensive cleverly engineered coating has been lost and its value not realised.TReFCo aims to develop a low cost method for removing these coatings so that they can be reused to make new devices. This will have multiple benefits; it will mean that valuable raw materials are kept within the supply chain, supporting the UK economy. It will also mean that the materials that they were coated on are cleaner prior to their recycling process ensuring a purer recycled product at a lower cost.The method employed by TReFCo will be to subject the coatings to near infrared radiation to burn the binder (glue) that holds the coating in place without damaging the coating material or the substrate material.TReFCo will also develop new adhesives that will 'unglue' when exposed to near infrared radiation, making it easier (and cheaper) to take devices apart before they are recycled. This could also be used within a repair process.In addition to the technical developments during the project a lifecycle analysis will be undertaken - this will ensure that researchers fully understand the environmental costs of producing materials and recycling them. Identifying any areas that are environmentally damaging in order that they can be avoided by material design or by changing the processing methods. In all the aim of the project is to make the possibility of a truly circular economy one step closer to being a reality.

15/12/21