Design for easy dismantling

The automotive industry is strongly committed to recycling. For example, the new cars are designed for easy dismantling of the plastic body parts for a closed-cycle recycling. The industry favors (1) recyclable resins, (2) reduction of the variety of resins, and (3) resins that can easily be compatibilized and recycled. 

An important point in the design of apparatus for work with, surface films is that it should be capable of easy dismantling and reassembling, so that the operations of cleaning can be easily conducted, and observations made with no unnecessary delay. At low surface pressures contamination accumulates rapidly, but at higher pressures than about 5 dynes delay is less serious. 

In chemical processing it is often required to convey a range of different powders and granules with the same vacuum conveyor. For example, in the paint industry various dyes and pigments are to be transferred. Therefore the design must be simple and should allow easy dismantling and cleaning. 

As an aside here, in manufacturing much emphasis has been placed on design for manufacture. This can both aid and hinder design for disassembly (DFD) and the recycling process. What is good for one is not necessarily good for the other. For example, a part that is easy to fit, may not necessarily be easy to dismantle. It may be necessary to compromise so that both can be satisfied. 

Where pipe-lines are used for delivery of ingredients or supply of bulk product, care should be taken to ensure that such systems are easy to clean. Pipe-work should be designed and installed so tat it may be readily dismantled and cleaned. 

---