Quantitative evaluation of the materials substitute effect

The New Structural Materials Research Association (Innovative Structural Materials Association: ISMA) is developing an evaluation method to quantitatively determine the material substitution effect for the future society by utilizing IDEA. We are aiming to establish a Consequential LCA method that can evaluate the entire life cycle of materials, taking into account the material flow and recyclability.

ISMA Project

Development of quantitative technology for material substitution effects of new materials

We are participating in the New Structural Materials Research Association (ISMA) project. ISMA is engaged in the research and development of innovative structural materials in order to achieve a drastic reduction (by half) in the weight of transportation equipment, mainly automobiles, by improving the performance of key structural materials and developing multi-material technologies. In the IDEA laboratory, we are researching issues related to this theme, such as the development of technology to quantify the effects of alternative materials for new materials.

Because the life cycle of a material is different from that of a product, the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method for existing products cannot evaluate the overall effect of material substitution. The objective of this project is to establish an evaluation method that can evaluate the entire life cycle of materials, taking into account the material flow and recyclability, in order to quantitatively determine the effect of material substitution.

Research content