A groundbreaking study has emerged from the Department of Metallurgy & Materials at Universitas Indonesia, revealing significant advancements in the use of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) for enhancing thermal treatment processes in construction and manufacturing. Led by Wahyuaji Narottama Putra, the research, published in ‘Materials Research Express,’ explores how pre-treatment techniques like leaching and pyrolysis can transform waste materials into high-performance quenchants, offering a dual benefit of waste reduction and improved industrial efficiency.
The study highlights the innovative approach of milling PCB powder, both with and without pre-treatment, to synthesize particle-dispersed quenchants. The results are compelling: quenchants made from fully pre-treated particles exhibit a remarkable reduction in size—up to 80.4% smaller than their half-pre-treated counterparts. This reduction is attributed to the breakdown of the epoxy resin commonly found in PCBs, which significantly enhances the thermal properties of the quenchants.
“By optimizing particle size through these pre-treatment processes, we can achieve a thermal conductivity increase of up to 17.47%,” Putra noted. “This improvement directly influences the cooling rates during heat treatment, which can lead to stronger and more durable materials.”
The implications for the construction sector are profound. Improved quenchants can enhance the hardness of materials used in construction, such as S45C medium carbon steel, which reached a hardness of 57.8 HRC in tests. This increased hardness is a result of the denser Martensite phase formed due to the higher cooling rates achieved with the optimized quenchants. Such advancements could lead to longer-lasting structural components, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing safety.
Moreover, the research underscores the importance of sustainable practices in construction. By repurposing waste PCBs, the industry can not only mitigate environmental impact but also tap into a cost-effective source of materials that enhance performance. As the sector increasingly leans towards sustainability, innovations like this could set new standards for material use and waste management.
The findings from this study present a compelling case for the adoption of advanced quenching techniques in various industrial applications, potentially revolutionizing how materials are treated and utilized in construction. As Wahyuaji Narottama Putra suggests, “The future of construction materials lies in our ability to innovate and repurpose waste effectively.”
For those interested in exploring this research further, more information can be found at the Department of Metallurgy & Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia.
