Experts from Waterlooville-based Jiva Materials and the University of Portsmouth recently received a UK grant to further develop and commercialize the concept, which has also been studied in Germany and Sweden.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs), used in everything from pacemakers to rockets, are the omnipresent hidden brains of modern technology. For over 70 years, the rigid laminates needed to make PCBs have been manufactured using highly polluting epoxy glass fibers.
At the end of their life cycle, less than 50% of the electronic waste from these boards is recyclable, and the gold, silver and platinum content is generally too low to be recovered.
"Electronic products represent a growing global waste problem," said Jiva in a press release announcing the partnership with the university's Advanced Polymers and Composites (APC) research group.
"On average, each person in the world produces 7.5 kg of electronic waste per year. It is estimated that PCBs account for 8% of all electronic waste".
The alternative developed by Jiva and the APC researchers involves impregnating hemp fibers with a water-soluble, halogen-free flame retardant, making it easier to recover electronic components containing valuable materials when PCBs are discarded.
Fully recyclable rigid PCB laminates based on natural fibers can have a 60% lower carbon footprint than glass fiber and epoxy-based technologies, and can reduce the £8 billion (€10 billion) worth of critical minerals that end up in UK landfills every year, said Jiva.
Biobased laminates can be fully compatible with existing processes such as acid/alkaline etching, electroplating, drilling, routing and curing required for PCB production, according to the researchers.
Jiva has already produced a water-soluble PCB from a flax-based composite that decomposes when immersed in hot water for an extended period. The grant will enable the research team to continue their study of flax and begin exploring the potential of hemp and jute-based composites.
The APC research group at the University of Portsmouth is part of the School of Mechanics and Design, which focuses on applied research into sustainable composite materials and manufacturing through partnerships with industry.
Source : Des fibres de chanvre pour remplacer les matériaux polluants en électronique ? : https://www.newsweed.fr/fibres-chanvre-pollution-electronique/