Theoretical Assessment of the Environmental Impact of the Preheating Stage in Thermoplastic Composite Processing: A Step toward Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

Manufacturing processes have always played a pivotal role in the life cycle assessment of products, necessitating focused efforts to minimize their impact on the environment. Thermoplastic composite manufacturing is no exception to this concern. Within thermoplastic composite manufacturing, the preheating process stands out as one of the most energy-intensive stages, significantly affecting the environment. In this study, a theoretical analysis is conducted to compare three modes of preheating: conductive, radiative, and convective modes, considering their energy consumption and environmental impact. The analysis reveals the potential for substantial energy savings and emissions reduction through the selection of a proper preheating mode. Since the analysis used in this study is theoretical, it facilitates a parametric study of different modes of preheating to assess how process parameters impact the environment. Moreover, this study includes a comparison between emissions from material production and the preheating process, highlighting the substantial contribution of the preheating process to the overall product life cycle assessment.