Sustainable materials are prevalent within design, but industrial design lacks mass-manufactured product examples. This research explores this gap in knowledge to understand the influences affecting the selection of sustainable materials and how UK industrial designers could be better supported. A comprehensive literature review explores the selection of sustainable materials within the context of industrial design. Existing tools and resources designed to support industrial designers are analysed to understand the support provision and requirements. The research approach explores individual attitudes, and the influences towards and against selecting sustainable materials. Four UK companies were studied to understand how sustainable materials are considered and utilised for mass-manufactured products. Two frameworks were designed to support and facilitate sustainable material selection. The first depicts the overarching support requirements whilst the second presents the considerations and strategies. Both frameworks were evaluated by experts and previous participants. A workshop with designers evaluated the efficacy of the second framework when used as a tool The majority of industrial designers were aware of general issues of sustainability but rarely considered selecting sustainable materials. All four companies had experienced significant changes recently, including increasing resources and internal initiatives towards the use of sustainable materials. The market for sustainable materials is improving, but risks exist, such as fluctuating availability and market instability. A lack of awareness and understanding has meant that, in order to succeed, some companies have designed methods to educate stakeholders whilst designers have requested support to educate clients. Personal interest of the individual is a key driver, creating champions who raise awareness and boost confidence amongst colleagues. There is a need, not only for greater education and support, but also to improve engagement with sustainable material selection amongst industrial designers and others involved in the process.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / With the purpose to develop environmentally appropriate materials, scales of the Piau fish and sodium alginate were used as precursor materials for the preparation of new ecomaterials which were used in the removal of the herbicide Paraquat and ions Co(II) and Cu(II). The hybrid material obtained from the reaction between the polysaccharide and scales was designated as ALG/ESC, and the hybrid ALG/ESC-CaCl2 was obtained from the crosslinking of the ALG/ESC with calcium chloride. The materials were characterized by FTIR, TG, SEM, XRD and determination of the point of zero charge (PZC). Changes in the peak observed in the FTIR spectrum of the ALG/ESC confirmed the existence of chemical interactions between Ca(II) of the hydroxyapatite present in fish scales, and the carboxylate groups of the sodium alginate. In the spectrum of ALG/ESC-CaCl2, bands were observed to be considerably narrower, due to crosslinking with the Ca(II) ions and tension of the carboxylate group that increases to accommodate the coordination structure around the Ca(II). It was observed an increase in sample thermal stability of the ALG/ESC-CaCl2 when compared to ALG/ESC, indicating the formation of the "egg box" structure. The SEM micrographs exhibited the presence of hydroxyapatite crystals on the surface of the ALG/ESC, and a homogeneous surface on the ALG/ESC-CaCl2 beads. Comparison between the X-ray diffraction profiles of the precursors (pure scales, ESC, and pure alginate, ALG) and those of the ALG/ESC and ALG/ESC-CaCl2 indicated that changes occurred due to incorporation of the hydroxyapatite structure in the alginate. From the PZC values of the materials, it was suggested that, in a general way, the interactions were controlled by electrostatic attractions between negatively charged surface groups and the cationic paraquat, or free Co(II) and Cu(II) ions, that are present in the solution, or between species of cobalt and copper in their anionic form and the surface groups that presented themselves as positively charged in the investigated pH range. From adsorption experiments carried out using the technique of batch with samples of solutions of the herbicide Paraquat and salts of copper and cobalt, the amount of adsorbed species per gram of adsorbent, Nf was determined. The values of Nf showed the highest affinity of the hybrid ALG/ESC-CaCl2 for the herbicide and the Co(II) and Co(II) ions. The adsorption rates were evaluated using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. It was found that the data did present a good fit to the traditional intraparticle diffusion model. The data obtained from this model suggested that processes, other than simple intraparticle diffusion, may be occurring simultaneously. / Buscando desenvolver materiais ambientalmente adequados, foram utilizadas escamas do peixe Piau e Alginato de Sódio como materiais precursores para preparação de novos ecomateriais que foram utilizados na remoção do herbicida Paraquat e de íons Co(II) e Cu(II). O material híbrido obtido da reação entre o polissacarídeo e as escamas foi designado como ALG/ESC, sendo o híbrido ALG/ESC-CaCl2 obtido a partir da reticulação do ALG/ESC com Cloreto de Cálcio. Os materiais foram caracterizados por FTIR, TG, MEV, DRX e determinação do ponto de carga zero (PCZ). No espectro de FTIR do ALG/ESC deslocamentos de picos para regiões de maiores comprimentos de onda indicaram a existência da interação química entre íons Ca(II) da hidroxiapatita, presentes na escama de peixe, e os grupos carboxilato do Alginato de Sódio. No espectro do ALG/ESC-CaCl2 foram observadas bandas consideravelmente mais estreitas, devido à ligação cruzada com os íons Ca(II) e pela tensão do grupo carboxilato que aumenta para acomodar a estrutura de coordenação em torno do Ca(II). O material ALG/ESC-CaCl2, quando comparado com o ALG/ESC, apresentou-se mais estável termicamente, indicando a formação da estrutura caixa de ovos . As micrografias evidenciaram a presença de cristais de hidroxiapatita na superfície das esferas de ALG/ESC, e uma superfície homogênea nas esferas ALG/ESC-CaCl2. Foram observadas mudanças nos padrões de difração de raios X, quando comparados aos dos precursores (escamas puras, ESC, e Alginato puro, ALG) que ocorreram devido à incorporação da hidroxiapatita na estrutura do Alginato. A partir dos valores do PCZ dos materiais sugeriu-se que, de um modo geral, as interações ocorrem através de atrações eletrostáticas entre grupos superficiais carregados negativamente e o Paraquat catiônico, ou íons Co(II) e Cu(II) livres que se encontram presentes na solução ou ainda entre espécies de cobalto e cobre na sua forma aniônica e os grupos superficiais que apresentavam-se carregados positivamente na faixa de pH investigada. Através de experimentos de adsorção realizados usando a técnica de batelada com amostras de soluções do herbicida Paraquat e de sais de cobre e cobalto, determinou-se a quantidade de espécie adsorvida por grama de adsorvente, Nf. Os valores de Nf indicaram que o híbrido ALG/ESC-CaCl2 apresentou maior afinidade pelo herbicida e pelos íons Co(II) e Co(II). As taxas de adsorção foram investigadas através dos modelos de pseudo-primeira-ordem, pseudo-segunda-ordem e de difusão intrapartícula. Verificou-se que os dados obtidos não se ajustaram aos modelos cinéticos de pseudo-primeira-ordem e pseudo-segunda-ordem, com exceção dos dados referentes à interação entre os íons Cu(II) e as esferas ALG/ESC-CaCl2. O modelo de difusão intrapartícula ofereceu uma boa correlação. Os dados obtidos através deste modelo sugeriram que os processos de interação são controlados não apenas por difusão intrapartícula, mas também outros processos ocorrem concomitantemente.