This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
USCAR U.S. Field Trial for Automotive Polymers Recycling
Technical Paper
2003-01-0645
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The United States Field Trial was chartered by the United States Council for Automotive Research/Vehicle Recycling Partnership (USCAR/VRP) with the objective of evaluating the feasibility and viability of collecting and recycling automotive polymers from domestic End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). European concerns regarding vehicle abandonment risks, decreasing landfill capacity, and disposal practices have resulted in the legislated treatment of ELVs in Western Europe. The emergence of attendant material collection schemes promoting material recycling may not apply to the free-market economic conditions prevalent in North America vehicle recycling infrastructure. Although ELVs are among the most widely recycled consumer products, 15-25% of their total mass is currently discarded with no material recovery, although their residue, when permitted, is a preferred landfill day cover in some areas. The portion of the vehicle remainder that is polymeric has the most potential for further recycling. In order to determine the potential success of polymeric recovery for further vehicle recycling within the North American recycling market, the United States Field Trial (USFT) was initiated in 1998 with interim documentation in 2000 (SAE 2000-01-0735). With the trial now completed, this paper reports on the entire project. The project identified North American ELV recycling practices, explored ELV plastic material recovery, and studied alternative scenarios for plastic material handling, local transportation, sorting, processing, and compounding. Specifically, recovered ABS and PP plastic materials were formulated to OEM specifications and molded using production tooling to establish the viability and economics of the pursuit of these materials as a commercial enterprise. Conclusions indicate that, while the materials and parts are acceptable, the economic incentives and altered logistics needed to support this endeavor will not currently be borne by existing North American market economics.
Recommended Content
Technical Paper | Automotive Plastics Recycling: Successful Projects |
Technical Paper | ADVANCED SEPARATION OF PLASTICS FROM SHREDDER RESIDUE |
Technical Paper | A Preliminary Study of the Recovery and Recycling of Automotive Plastics |
Authors
Citation
Gallmeyer, W., Duranceau, C., Williams, R., and Winslow, G., "USCAR U.S. Field Trial for Automotive Polymers Recycling," SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-0645, 2003, https://doi.org/10.4271/2003-01-0645.Also In
References
- Duranceau Winslow Saha SAE 980094 ‘Recycling of Automotive Seat Foam: Acoustics of Post consumer Rebond Seat Foam for Carpet Underlayment Application,’ February 1998
- Gallmeyer Duranceau Williams Winslow SAE 2003-01-1371 ‘Stake digester process for HDPE Fuel Tank Recycling,’ March 2003
- Autoskill, Inc. 601 S. Glenoaks Blvd., Suite 300, Burbank, Ca 91502 ADP Hollander, 14800 28th Avenue North, #190, Plymouth MN
- Orr, William W SAE 2000-01-0735 : USCAR U.S. ‘Field Trial for Automotive Polymers Recycling: Interim Findings’ Society of Automotive Engineers Conference 2 2 2000
- Maten A et al. Disposal Practices for Post-use Automotive Plastics American Plastics Council October 1994
- Maten A et al. Economics of Recovery and Recycling American Plastics Council December 1994
- Maten A et al. Sorting and Processing Automotive Plastics - Emerging Technologies American Plastics Council August 1994
- Mark F.E. Kamprath A. “Recycling & Recovery Options for PU seating material - ELV Treatment Today and in Future. An LCA Type Cost Analysis” Society of Automotive Engineers Conference 2 2 2000
- Villwock R. Martel B. Berthevas P. “Recent Technical Advances and Economic Evaluations in Automotive Seat Recycling” Proceedings of the International Automobile Recycling Congress March 2001 Geneva
- Martel B. “Reclamation of Urethane Foam from Automotive Seats” Proceedings of the Polyurethane World Congress '97 1997 Amsterdam, the Netherlands 588 597