LCA of Bumper and Fairings and Impact of Using Recycled Material

Virgin polyolefin materials are used for mold-in-color bumper and fairing structures. These materials are recyclable but there is not currently a closed loop recycling system setup for these parts. A life-cycle-assessment (LCA) has not been conducted to evaluate the impact of these parts on product sustainability. This student team will work to conduct a LCA to determine sustainability improvements of using regrind materials from bumpers and fairings at the end of their life as sleeper cabinet components. Conduct material property tests on recycled material to determine reduction in material properties. This student team will work to evaluate the Kenworth Aero Bumper and Fairings to develop the LCA. This student team will need to gather input data from a part supplier (ConMet and/or Creative Liquid Coatings) and material supplier (Washington Penn Plastics) to conduct the LCA. This student team will work to conduct a LCA that will include use of virgin materials for bumper and fairings and compare use of regrind material vs virgin material for sleeper cabinets. This student team will work to perform material property testing (Tensile, Flexural, impact) at UW to compare virgin to regrind materials to determine the reduction in material properties. Virgin and regrind material samples will be provided by the material supplier, Washington Penn Plastics. The outcome this student team is working to achieve is to determine sustainability improvements that can be gained by using regrind material from bumpers and fairings at the end of their life for other components such as sleeper cabinets.

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