The direct integration of electronics into polymer parts is economical, enables new designs, and can safe weight and material. Current projections suggest robust growth for in-mould and printed electronics technologies where conductive leads are integrated into polymer parts. The automotive industry and producers of household appliances are actively developing such routes.
Ecological prudence and regulation of the European Union and national governments require an increasing level of recycling for electronics. While polymer-integrated electronics can reduce the amount of material used, the recovery of materials (metals and polymers) from integrated parts is more difficult than for conventional electronics. This constitutes a serious risk for the innovation, but it can be mitigated by well-informed material choice and design adaptation. SMEs are expected to play a key role in the necessary sustainable transformation of electronics manufacturing. The aim of this project is to enable SMEs to profit from the transition from conventional PCBs (that are largely produced in Asia) to integrated electronics and provide them with sustainable technologies.
To this end, ReIn-E will introduce, test, and optimize new materials for “release layers” as part of this design; ensure the reliability, performance, and market compatibility of the recyclable design; establish a “best practice” model cycle from the production of pastes through printing, moulding, and metal recovery.
Based on existing materials and processes, INM synthesizes modified pastes/inks, develops separation layers and provides them to Sirris and SMEs; Sirris, Hahn-Schickard, and SMEs print conductive structures and/or integrate them by moulding and laminating; Hahn Schickard tests the performance and reliability of the overall parts; and Centre Pierre et Terre develops processes to recovers the metal and polymers from the pieces. We are aiming at “closing the cycle” and re-introducing the recovered polymer and metal fraction into the first step to demonstrate the sustainable design and processes.