Renewable energy production with wind turbines has been rising in the last 30 years and it is a crucial technology, which is necessary for the energy transition. As sustainable as the energy production of wind turbines is, the waste management of the blade material is not. Most of the blades end up on a landfill or get incinerated. There are different types of recycling methods, but the most commonly used is to shred the fibers into little pieces and reusing them for filler material in the concrete industry. This approach does not actually split up the blade material into its components but it is more of a downcycling. In this thesis, a new type of pyrolysis will be looked into, which splits up the blade material into its components namely glass fibers and plastic using molten salt. This process would make the glass fiber industry more sustainable by introducing a recycled glass fiber with minimal loss in quality. In a first step, the blade material will be examined more closely with a thermogravimetric analysis to find out what kind of plastic it is and what temperature would be necessary to pyrolyze it. This information will be used to conduct an experiment in a molten salt solution and determine the necessary reaction time and temperature. This data will be used to compare the costs of this method with shredding the material and the conventional pyrolysis. From the thermogravimetric analysis, it was possible to determine that the type of plastic used in this turbine was made out of epoxy. The maximum degredation of this material occurred at 380 ◦C. Not many experiments could be conducted in order to find the optimal conditions for the pyrolysis process due to difficulties with the furnace. Nevertheless, one sample was successfully pyrolyzed at a temperature of 400 ◦C with a residence time of 15 minutes. With the current market conditions in the recycled glass fibers industry, this product would be too expensive and the demand would be too little. However, the market is expected to grow in the next couple years due to rising interests in circular economy and governments introducing regulations. Nevertheless, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the molten salt pyrolysis in order to be applicable to a bigger scale. More experiments should be conducted with cheaper molten salt in order to sink the costs of the process.

The focus of the project is recycling of the insulation material mineral wool. The aim is to investigate the potential of using post-consumer wool from landfill as fiber reinforcement in a polymer matrix. Information gathering is conducted by a literature study on previous research, with focus on sustainability, circular economy and waste management. Potential is evaluated by producing test specimens, test mechanical properties with tensile and flexural tests, and conducting a life cycle assessment and economic analysis of the material. Mechanical properties of interest in this study are maximum stress and stiffness. The conclusion is that the manufacturing methods selected in the project do not achieve sufficient quality in the material to determine whether the fibers have the desired effect. Rock wool fibers do blend well with both polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but polymer composites with short fibers require control of fiber length, dispersion and direction, and the material needs to be free of pores which has not been achieved at this stage. As a result, unreinforced HDPE performs best in tensile tests (19,4 MPa in stress and 1,22 GPa Young’s modulus), in bending reinforced PP of virgin plastic achieves the highest stress and unreinforced PP the highest flexural modulus (74,1 MPa and 0,74 GPa respectively). The life cycle assessment shows that recycled rock wool fibers have potential to produce 60% less CO2 emissions than the equivalent glass fiber composite. In addition, stone wool fibers show the potential to save 30 000 SEK/ton compared to glass fiber, which corresponds to a 75% lower price. / Projektets fokus är återvinning av isoleringsmaterialet mineralull. Målet är att undersöka potentialen i att använda avfallet efter rivning eller renovering som fiberförstärkning i en polymermatris. Insamling av information sker genom att utföra en litteraturstudie på forskning, med fokus på hållbarhet, cirkulär ekonomi och avfallshantering. Materialets potential utvärderas genom att tillverka provstavar, testa mekaniska egenskaper med dragprov och böjprov, samt utföra livscykelanalys och ekonomisk analys av materialet. Mekaniska egenskaper av intresse i denna studie är maximal spänning och styvhet. Slutsatsen är att de valda tillverkningsmetoderna i projektet inte åstadkommer tillräcklig kvalitet i materialet för att kunna avgöra om fibrerna har önskad effekt. Fiber och matris blandar sig bra både i fallet med polypropen (PP) och hög-densitet polyeten (HDPE), men polymerkompositer med korta fibrer kräver kontroll av fiberlängd, spridning och riktning, och materialet behöver vara fritt från porer, vilket inte uppnåtts i detta stadie. Resultatet är att oförstärkt HDPE presterar bäst i dragprov (19,4 MPa i spänning och 1,22 GPa i E-modul), i böjning uppnår förstärkt PP av nyproducerad plast högst spänning och oförstärkt PP högst E-modul (74,1 MPa respektive 0,74 GPa). Livscykelanalysen visar att fibrer av återvunnen stenull har potential att bidra med 60% CO2-utsläpp än motsvarande komposit med glasfiber. Stenullsfibrer visar dessutom potential att spara 30 000 kr/ton jämfört med glasfiber, vilket motsvarar 75% lägre pris.

This thesis investigates the challenges and opportunities of recycling PA6-GF30, a glass-filled polyamide, to address the pressing environmental concerns surrounding polymer waste. Through a collaboration between Thule Group and Jönköping University, it aims to understand how the properties of recycled materials evolve over time and reprocessing cycles, proposing practical methods for their utilization in sustainable manufacturing practices. Thule Group's commitment to reducing emissions entails transitioning to sustainable materials, particularly through increased use of recycled engineering materials like PA6-GF30, to lower the carbon footprint of products, emphasizing the importance of maintaining product quality and safety while exploring the effects of recycled materials on mechanical properties. Through producing and testing post-industrial and post-consumer samples added to virgin PA6-GF30 with varying ratios, comparison with the commercially available polymers was conducted. In total, 15 different mixtures of pellets of different quantity and quality of recycled composites were investigated with tensile test and impact test, moreover the fibers of some batches were filtrated from the matrix and the fiber aspect ratio was examined with the help of an optical microscope. Results illustrated that recycled polymers generally showed more mechanical property degradation as the ratio of recycled polymers were increased. Furthermore, adding the same amount of post-consumer regrinds as opposed to post-industrial was more detrimental to the overall mechanical performance. Post-industrial composite regrinds performed 11,3% worse in UTS, meanwhile post-consumer regrinds dropped by 25,5% in the same characteristic when the samples made of 100% recycled materials were compared to the virgin composite.  The reason behind this phenomenon was investigated and supported by microscopy. One of them is the natural aging of the material that operates through chain scission, that slowly makes that polymer stiffer and weaker. The other and more dominant reason is the damage taken by the fibers, that create numerous stress concentration sites at fiber ends, within the structure, ultimately damaging the fiber-matrix interface.

Nanokompositfilmer med fem olika sammansättningar av hexagonala bornitrid nanosheet och TEMPO-CNF tillverkades med hjälp av vakuumassisterad filtreringsteknik. sond-ultraljudsteknik användes som en grön väg för exfoliering av bornitridpulver i vattenhaltigt medium. TEMPO-CNF spelade nyckelroller som både matris och dispergeringsmedel för stabilisering av bornitrid nanosheets i kompositen. Nanokompositfilmerna var flexibla och formbara och de visade höga mekaniska egenskaper inklusive hög draghållfasthet och god brottöjning. / Nanocomposite films with five different compositions of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets and TEMPO-CNF were fabricated using vacuum-assisted filtration technique. probe-ultrasonication technique was applied as a green route for exfoliation of boron nitride powder in aqueous medium. TEMPO-CNF played key roles as both matrix and dispersant agent for stabilization of the boron nitride nanosheets in the composite. The nanocomposite films were flexible and ductile, and they showed high mechanical properties including high tensile strength and good elongation at break.

The primary contributor to greenhouse gases emissions in the European Union is the road transport sector, accounting for over 70% of total emissions. In response to this environmental concern, the EU is working on implementing strict regulations aimed at reducing emissions by 45% by the year 2030, compelling manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles to produce emission free alternatives. While vehicle electrification is a promising solution,it introduces a new challenge: the need for lighter vehicles becomes more increasing with the incorporation of powerful yet heavy battery systems. This work aims to study the possibility of substituting the steel bus frames with composite material frames with the dual objectives of reducing the overall weight of the bus and minimising its environmental footprint throughout the life cycle of the part. The most suitable composite materials, manufacturing processes and joining methods for the studied frames were investigated based on literature review and a list of requirements. Composite finite element analysis was performed to study the behaviour of the composite assembly when it is inserted into the steel bus model to simulate the real-life environment.  The analysis performed showed that composite frames can facilitate a mass reduction of over half of the steel frames weight. An unfailing structural behaviour of the laminate can be achieved using adhesive bonding as the joining method between the two distinct materials. At the same time, two significant needs were highlighted: the importance of laminate optimisation (in terms of different material properties, number of layers and orientations) both to reduce costs and to maximise the structural strength through effective and efficient material distribution and the importance of partitioning the composite structure in a cost beneficial way (when it comes to scrap levels and moulds complexity). / Den huvudsakliga bidragande faktorn för utsläpp av växthusgaser inom den Europeiska Unionen är vägtransportsektorn som står för över 70% av alla utsläpp. Som gensvar på detta bekymmer för klimatet jobbar EU på att implementera stränga regler som syftar till att minska utsläppen med 45% till år 2030, vilket tvingar tillverkare av tunga fordon att producera utsläppsfria alternativ. Fastän fordonselektrifieringen är en lovande lösning, introducerar den en ny utmaning: behovet av lättare fordon ökar i takt med införandet av kraftfulla men tunga batterisystem.  Syftet med detta arbete är att studera möjligheten att ersätta bussars stålramar med kompositmaterialramar med det dubbla målet att minska bussarnas totala vikt samt minimera deras klimatvtryck under ramarnas livscykel. Tillverkningsprocessen och sammanfogningsmetoderna för de studerade ramarna undersöktes baserat på litteraturgenomgång och en kravlista för att ta fram de mest lämpliga kompositmaterialen. Kompositfinit elementanalys genomfördes för att studera beteendet hos ihopsättningen av kompositen när det sattes in i stålbussmodellen för att simulera den verkliga miljön. Den genomförda analysen visade att kompositramar kan leda till en massreduktion på över hälften av stålramarnas vikt. Ett osvikligt strukturellt beteende hos laminatet kan uppnås genom att använda adhesiv bindning som sammanfogningsmetod mellan de två distinkta materialen. Samtidigt lyftes två betydande behov: vikten av att optimera laminatet (vad gäller olika materialegenskaper, antal lager och orienteringar) både för att minskakostnader och för att maximera den strukturella styrkan genom effektiv materialfördelning och vikten av att dela upp kompositens struktur på ett kostnadseffektivt sätt (när det kommer till avfallsniv ̊aer och gjutningskomplexitet).

In recent decades, the necessity to find a completely environmentally friendly substitute for synthetic fibres in composite applications has intensified, driven by the objective of reducing emissions in both the production and disposal of composite components. Natural fibres present a potential solution, yet they have some issues such as the inhomogeneous quality of their cross-section and mechanical properties, depending on different aspects, for example, growing conditions and the amount of intake water. Another potential solution is organic man-made fibres, such as fibre made from Cellulose NanoFibrils, which do not present the previously cited drawbacks.This thesis investigates and compares the potentials of organic fibres, either man-made or natural, in composite reinforcement applications. To accomplish this, organic fibres are integrated into composite plates using two distinct thermoset matrices, epoxy and vinyl ester, respectively via methods of hot pressing and vacuum infusion. Subsequently, the produced composite plates undergo tensile testing, with the results being compared with the theoretical values. Furthermore, microscopy is employed to examine the adhesion at the interface between reinforcement and matrix.The findings indicate that man-made fibres from Cellulose NanoFibrils bind more efficiently with thermoset matrices compared to flax fibres, making them more adept as reinforcement materials for thermoset composites. / Under de senaste decennierna har behovet av att hitta en helt miljövänlig ersättning för syntetiska fibrer i kompositapplikationer intensifierats, drivet av målet att minska utsläppen både vid produktion och avfallshantering av kompositkomponenter. Naturliga fibrer presenterar en potentiell lösning, men de har vissa problem som den ojämna kvaliteten på deras tvärsnitt och mekaniska egenskaper, beroende på olika aspekter, till exempel växtförhållanden och mängden intaget vatten. En annan potentiell lösning är organiska konstgjorda fibrer, som fibrer tillverkade av cellulosa nanofibriller, som inte har de tidigare nämnda nackdelarna.Denna avhandling undersöker och jämför potentialen hos organiska fibrer, antingen konstgjorda eller naturliga, i kompositförstärkningsapplikationer. För att uppnå detta integreras organiska fibrer i kompositplattor med hjälp av två olika termohärdande matriser, epoxi och vinyl-ester, via metoder för varmpressning och vakuuminfusion. Därefter genomgår de producerade kompositplattorna dragprovning, med resultaten jämförda med de teoretiska värdena. Dessutom används mikroskopi för att undersöka vidhäftningen vid gränssnittet mellan förstärkning och matris.Resultaten indikerar att konstgjorda fibrer från cellulosa nanofibriller binder effektivare med termohärdande matriser jämfört med linfibrer, vilket gör dem mer lämpliga som förstärkningsmaterial för termohärdande kompositer.

Abstract The wood industries to this day use almost exclusively petroleum derived adhesives that are based mainly on the reaction of formaldehyde with urea, melamine or phenol. These adhesives have low cost and good adjustable properties which makes it hard for bio-based alternatives to compete. Phenol formaldehyde (PF), as an example of a synthetic adhesive, has been in use for over 100 years. In some parts of the world, legislation around formaldehyde is changing, and there is an increasingly voluntary awareness about the toxicity and unsustainability of formaldehyde. Industries realize that raw materials from oil is unstainable. The latter is currently a driving factor behind research on alternatives to amino based adhesives. Also, consumer interest in healthy and sustainable products, such as emitting less formaldehyde indoors, increases the need for bio based adhesives. Cellulose contained in plant cell walls is a renewable, abundant and nontoxic resource. During the last decades, many innovations have been achieved around cellulose and this trend does not seem to be slowing down. Cellulose shows excellent mechanical properties, high strength, high elastic modulus as well as having a low density. Research about cellulose reinforced adhesives has been increased the last years. This thesis studied the enhancement of phenol formaldehyde adhesive with Crystalline Nano Cellulose (CNC) at 5wt% and 10wt% loading levels for producing plywood boards. Indecisive results when using CNC higher than 3wt%, especially with PF resin, have been reported by other authors. In this thesis, European standards were applied. EN 314 was applied to test the panels shear strength. Three (3) treatment classes were selected, indoor room condition as well as pre-treatments 5.1.1 and 5.1.3. Other properties measured were modulus of elasticity, thickness swelling, formaldehyde emissions. Results showed a shear strength increase for all pre-treatment classes. 10wt% CNC mixture with phenol formaldehyde in water bath, pre-treatment (5.1.1) for 24h showed the highest increase in shear strength (+73,9%). The 10 wt% CNC mixture panels also showed the highest wood fibre failure of all panel types produced. A decrease in MOE has been observed with 10 wt% CNC compared to the 5 wt% CNC panels. Formaldehyde emissions tests were inconclusive, but since less PF was used, there was a general reduction in emissions. The 5 wt% CNC panels were superior in terms of modulus of elasticity and swelling and also showed improved shear strength.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) for metals includes is a group of production methodst hat use a layer-by-layer approach to directly manufacture final parts. In recent years, the production rate and material quality of additive manufactured materials have improved rapidly which has gained increased interest from the industry to use AM not only for prototyping, but for serial production. AM offers a greater design freedom, compared to conventional production methods, which allows for parts with new innovative design. This is very attractive to the aerospace industry, in which parts could be designed to have reduced weight and improved performance contributing to reduced fuel consumption, increased payload and extended flight range. There are, however, challenges yet to solve before the potential of AM could be fully utilized in aerospace applications. One of the major challenges is how to deal with the poor fatigue behaviour of AM material with rough as-built surface. The aim of this thesis is to increase the knowledge of how AM can be used for high performance industrial parts by investigating the fatigue behaviour of the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V produced with different AM processes. Foremost, the intention is to improve the understanding of how rough as-built AM surfaces in combination with AM built geometrical notches affects the fatigue properties.This was done by performing constant amplitude fatigue testing to compare different combinations of AM material produced by Electron Beam Melting(EBM) and Laser Sintering (LS) with machined or rough as-built surfaces with or without geometrical notches and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) treatment. Furthermore, the material response can be different between constant amplitude and variable amplitude fatigue loading due to effects of overloads and local plastic deformations. The results from constant amplitude testing were used to predict the fatigue life for variable amplitude loading by cumulative damage approach and these predictions were then verified by experimental variable amplitude testing. The constant amplitude fatigue strength of material with rough as-built surfaces was found to be 65-75 % lower, compared to conventional wrought bar, in which HIP treatments had neglectable influence on the fatigue strength. Furthermore, the fatigue life predictions with cumulative damage calculations showed good agreement with the experimental results which indicates that a cumulative damage approach can be used, at least for a tensile dominated load sequences, to predict the fatigue behaviour of additive manufactured Ti6Al4V.

The increasing worldwide demand for more eco-friendly materials with improved tribo- logical properties has expanded the interest in research on polymer as an alternative for conventional metal/metal contacts under dry lubrication. Specifically, UHMWPE, a semi-crystalline polymer, has shown interesting tribological properties for low demanding applications, allied with excellent recyclability, manufacturability and low cost. Though, its limited working temperature range and wear resistance claims reinforcements to modulate these drawbacks. Metal sulfides, such as MoS2 and SnS2 are well-known 2D materials with outstanding thermal, mechanical and tribological properties which have the potential to increase the range of applicability of UHMWPE. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the influence of metal sulfide-based micro-particles on UHMWPE-based composites properties under reciprocating movement and to determine further acknowledgements about the mechanisms involved. The results showed that the incorporation of fillers im- proved in hardness and wettability, whereas thermal properties were conserved. Though, it is noted that chemical degradation processes (oxidation and un-saturation reactions) that occurred during the manufacturing negatively influenced the composite’s tribological response. Higher reinforcement weight percentages (10%) promoted metal-sulfides agglomeration, increased degradation and ultimately diminished wear resistance. Overall, optimizing the amount of filler in the matrix at 5 wt% provided its homogeneous dispersion and a good interface with the matrix, leading to enhancement in wear resistance up to 62%. Indeed, the incorporation of metal-sulfide based materials in the UHMWPE matrix revealed an excellent solution where wear resistance improvements are needed.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die kationische Polymerisation neuer Furanmonomere beschrieben, die zu anorganisch-organischen Nanokompositen führt. Die kationische Polymerisation des Tetrafurfuryloxysilans steht dabei im Vordergrund. Ausgehend von den synthetisierten Kompositen wird die Herstellung von anorganischen Oxiden durch thermische Oxidation und von Kohlenstoffmaterialien durch thermische Behandlung in Schutzgasatmosphäre beschrieben. Die Charakterisierung der Komposite, Oxide und Kohlenstoffmaterialien erfolgt mittels Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie, Röntgenbeugung und Elektronenmikroskopie. Das Prinzip der neu entdeckten Zwillingspolymerisation wird vorgestellt und anhand verschiedener Beispiele auf seine weitere Anwendbarkeit zur Synthese anorganisch-organischer Kompositmaterialien überprüft.