Life cycle assessment of a new graphene-based electrodeposition process on copper components

This report studies the electrodeposition process of an innovative alternative to silver plating: graphene-copper composite coatings on copper substrates. This new technology provides a potential solution to the environmental problems that typically affect traditional silvering processes, which rely on using and disposing of highly toxic cyanide baths that incur negative economic impacts. Silver plating applications include electronics, connectors and semi-conductors, bearings, musical instruments, and luxury goods. This study consists of two main steps. First, experimental tests investigated the overall process and its coating performance. The tests also focused on understanding the basic mechanisms involved in the coating process and the effects of the operational parameters. Second, an LCA analysis was developed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed technology in terms of environmental impact, energy consumption and cost. The results demonstrate that this new technology is suitable for industrial applications, providing an effective and environmentally friendly solution with a positive economic impact.