Researchers at the University of Maryland have reportedly made a breakthrough in the production of environmentally friendly electronic boards and products.
According to an article recently posted to the website of New Scientist, the researchers designed 3-D printable circuit boards using polyvinyl alcohol, a polymer substance that can dissolve in water. They then formed wiring through the use of a liquid form of a gallium-indium metal alloy and sealed the board circuits with polymer glue. The entire board was then dried for an hour at 60°C.
The finished boards were then assembled into simple versions of a Bluetooth speaker and an electronic three-finger gripper. Finally, after prolonged exposure to warm water, the devices dissolved to the point where the components and dissolved polyvinyl alcohol could be easily and safely recycled.
The article cites a 2022 United Nations report that estimates that Asian countries generate approximately 600,000 tons of used circuit boards but recycle less than 20%. The numbers are better in the EU and North America, which produce approximately 300,000 tons of circuit boards each, and recycle 61% and 44%, respectively. But that’s still a lot of electronic waste that might be mitigated by a more environmentally sustainable approach to circuit board construction.
The New Scientist article on the potential ecological benefits of 3-D printed electronics is available at https://www.newscientist.com/article/2493756-3d-printed-electronics-can-dissolve-in-water-for-quick-recycling/.
