We know that circuit boards are an indispensable part of our electronic equipment, computers, telephones, televisions, and many more devices. So far they constitute a component that we cannot do without, which means that we all have a good amount of circuit boards in our homes, and since we generally tend to replace electronic equipment relatively often, due to damage or obsolescence, we have also generated a good amount of electronic waste. And these components are not biodegradable, so for the future of electronics we must move towards more environmentally friendly electronic components.
The future of sustainable electronics lies in biodegradable circuit boards. Source: pixabay.com
In this regard, a researcher who is part of a multinational EU project called "Hypelignum" may have hit upon the key, as it aims to make environmentally friendly circuit boards from cellulose fibers.
Cellulose fibers are fibers made from cellulose, a natural straight-chain polymer formed by repeating glucose molecules bonded together end-to-end. These glucose units allow the formation of thousands of hydrogen bonds with adjacent chains, making the molecules tightly packed, providing a material that repels water and has considerable mechanical strength.
cellulose chains bonded by hydrogen bridges. Source: wikipedia.org.
These fibers can be extracted from wood or plant leaves, and are processed only as much as necessary to clean the fibers from other materials; they are then processed into pulp and molded in much the same way as synthetic fibers are made. This is why this type of fiber has great potential in the sustainable manufacture of various products, as it provides stiffness and strength but is carbon neutral and burns without leaving residues.
Circuit boards made of cellulose fibers
Now, the Hypelignum researcher had already manufactured circuit boards with cellulose fibers mainly by investigating their biodegradation, he made a mixture of fibers with water and produced a sludge that he could dehydrate and compact to manufacture experimental boards to which electronic components were installed, the experimental boards were subjected to a biodegradation test, finding that they released all the soldered components after a week of composting in the soil.
The experimental boards released all components after one week of composting. Source: wikipedia.org.
The opportunity then arose to build on these discoveries, and now two Empa labs (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) are collaborating on the project to produce sustainable electronic components, and there are now plans to produce and evaluate various materials for making green circuit boards from renewable raw materials, including wood wool and wood pulp as a base.
As the researchers explain, green electronics is one of the lab's main topics, and they have already produced several components from biodegradable materials, but the circuit boards have requirements that should not be taken lightly for industrial production, such as excellent mechanical strength as well as not failing in wet conditions.
And it seems that cellulose fibers are a good alternative to glass fiber composites, since cellulose fibers stick together on their own when subjected to pressure, without the need for additives.
On the other hand, the Hypelignum project also aims to develop conductive inks, in addition to circuit boards with renewable raw materials, since the conductive inks used for electrical connections are made with silver nanoparticles, and they intend to find more economical and sustainable materials.
At the end of the project they expect to demonstrate a circuit board with more environmentally friendly printed material, pieces of furniture equipped with sensors, and the recyclability of all the elements will be tested.
Well friends, let's hope that this type of research continues to advance and we will be able to have more sustainable electronic components. See you next time!
References
Wikipedia.org. Fibras de celulosa
Newswise (2023). Green electronics: Circuit boards from renewable raw materials.