Boeing

Life Cycle Assessment of Electrocoating Process

Electrocoating (E-coat) is a paint application process that uses electrical current to deposit charged paint particles onto a conductive substrate. This technique has numerous sustainability benefits such as minimizing paint waste through continuous reuse of the resin, eliminating single use maskants by minimizing paint overspray, and achieving a uniform coating thickness across complex parts. Recent advances in this technology make it an appealing candidate for use in aerospace, however the full impact of the application is unknown. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing environmental impacts of a product that accounts for all stages of the product life cycle. The goal for this student team is to complete a full LCA of E-coat processes and make recommendations for future design considerations. The student team will develop Life Cycle Assessment of E-coat materials and processes. Include an analysis of upstream considerations (e.g. resin composition, equipment design), manufacturing operations (e.g. operating parameters, resin recycle efficiency, waste disposal), end product performance and use (e.g. coating thickness uniformity, part design constraints, durability), and end of life (e.g. disposal, recycling). The final deliverables for this student team will be a literature review of E-coat processes and design considerations. A report documenting the input parameters and outcomes from a Life Cycle Assessment. Recommendations for the future work based upon the conclusions drawn.