Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
insulators,andbeinglighterthanconventionalmaterialsusedinOEM(such
as metals), results in energy saving during transport. The classes of plastics
commonly used in home appliances are summarized in
Table 5.10
.
In some
of these uses, the specific plastics are virtually irreplaceable without
significantly increasing the cost, and in others, volume production of the
equipment at an affordable cost is only possible because plastic materials
are used in their fabrication.
Table 5.10
Main Types of Plastics Used in Equipment and
Household Goods Manufacture
Source: Based on Mudgal and Lyons (2011).
PP PS PPE/
PS
SAN ABS PC/
ABS
PET PA PVC
Printers and fax
machines
X
X
X
X
Telecom equipment
X
X
TV housing
X
X
X
Toys
X X
X X
Monitors
X
X
Computer housing
X
X
Dishwashers
X
X
The leading material in each category is highlighted. PPE - Poly(phenylene oxide).
A salient use of plastics is in refrigerators and freezers where closed-cell
insulating foams such as PU are used. These result in significant energy
savings that can be appreciated by comparing the life cycle energy costs of
refrigerators that use the alternative fiberglass insulation with those using
PU foam. One such study (Franklin Associates, Ltd., 2000) found
appliances with PU insulation to require only 61% of the energy used by
those relying on fiberglass insulation. The study was based on foam using
the blowing agent HFC141b, now phased out pursuant to the Montreal
