New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled?

[Jan Panteltje]

New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165151.htm
Source:
University of Washington
Summary:
Researchers have developed a new PCB that performs on par with traditional materials
and can be recycled repeatedly with negligible material loss.
Researchers used a solvent that transforms a type of vitrimer
-- a cutting-edge class of polymer -- into a jelly-like substance without damage,
allowing solid components to be plucked out for reuse or recycling.
With these 'vPCBs' (vitrimer printed circuit boards), researchers recovered 98% of the vitrimer and 100% of the glass fiber.


Repair cracked PCBs??

[john larkin]

Post by Jan Panteltje
New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165151.htm
University of Washington
Researchers have developed a new PCB that performs on par with traditional materials
and can be recycled repeatedly with negligible material loss.
Researchers used a solvent that transforms a type of vitrimer
-- a cutting-edge class of polymer -- into a jelly-like substance without damage,
allowing solid components to be plucked out for reuse or recycling.
With these 'vPCBs' (vitrimer printed circuit boards), researchers recovered 98% of the vitrimer and 100% of the glass fiber.

and 91% of the solvent. I wonder how much solvent it needs, and where
did the other 9% go.

I'd expect that e-waste is mostly packaging and heat sinks and line
cords and LCDs, not so much PCBs. My PC here might be a couple per
cent PCBs by weight, and less by volume. A big TV or microwave oven,
even less.