Print Email Facebook Twitter Circular design of composite products Title Circular design of composite products: A framework based on insights from literature and industry Author Joustra, J.J. (TU Delft Circular Product Design) Flipsen, Bas (TU Delft Circular Product Design) Balkenende, R. (TU Delft Circular Product Design) Date 2021 Abstract Composite materials are an attractive material choice as they enable lightweight, low-maintenance products with a long lifespan. Recycling these materials, however, remains a chal-lenge. Homogeneous material composition and the use of thermoset matrices complicate repro-cessing, and result in low-grade recyclate. This means that closing the loop for these materials in a circular economy remains challenging, especially for glass fibre-reinforced thermoset composites. For a circular economy, products need to be designed to preserve product functionality, material properties, and economic value for as long as possible. However, recovery strategies, design aspects and their interconnectedness are currently largely unexplored for products containing fibre-rein-forced polymers. The aim of this study was to identify circular strategies and determine design aspects for products containing composites. To achieve this, we conducted a systematic literature review and consulted experts. The circular strategies are largely similar to generic circular economy strategies as far as product integrity is concerned. However, on a material level, we identified addi-tional approaches, the most notable of which is structural reuse, which preserves the material quality and thereby value. The design aspects were clustered and positioned along the product design process to support implementation. Finally, the strategies and design aspects we identified were brought together in a framework to support product design and design research for products containing composite materials in the context of a circular economy. Subject Circular economyComposite materialsDesign To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c50a7b68-684a-40cb-a9ab-c8008f602b7e DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137223 ISSN 2071-1050 Source Sustainability, 13 (13) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 J.J. Joustra, Bas Flipsen, R. Balkenende Files PDF sustainability_13_07223_v2.pdf 6.31 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:c50a7b68-684a-40cb-a9ab-c8008f602b7e/datastream/OBJ/view