PCB Substrate Disposal
PCB Substrate Grinding + Glass-Fiber Recovery
The PCB substrate grinding and glass-fiber recovery unit processes de-metaled FR4 epoxy-glass boards into reusable fibers and inert filler for sintered construction blocks. Built with a hardened steel grinder, sieve screens, and an Inconel char chamber, the 25 kg system operates at 200 W with a throughput of 5 kg per hour. Designed for a 15-year operational lifetime, the mechanism eliminates long-mission dead-mass storage by mechanically separating structural glass fibers, incinerating epoxy char for energy recovery, and capturing hazardous bromine flame retardants for isolated containment.
After metal recovery, PCB substrates (FR4 epoxy-glass) are ground for glass-fiber recovery or used as filler in L1-MFG sintering.
Purpose
After metal recovery, PCB substrates (FR4 epoxy-glass) are ground for glass-fiber recovery or used as filler in L1-MFG sintering.
Context
Child of L2-WMS-ELEC within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Mechanical grinding to powder
- ▸Glass-fiber separation via screening
- ▸Epoxy residue char incinerated for energy recovery
- ▸Inert filler use in L1-MFG construction blocks
- ▸Hazardous-element capture (Pb, Br)
Typical implementations
- ▸Industrial PCB recycling (terrestrial)
- ▸Construction aggregate from PCB waste
Lunar considerations
- ▸Long-mission PCB inventory recycled to reduce dead-mass storage
- ▸Bromine flame retardants captured separately for hazardous storage
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | After metal recovery, PCB substrates (FR4 epoxy-glass) are ground for glass-fiber recovery or used as filler in L1-MFG sintering. |
| throughput kg per hour | 5 |
Physical
| mass kg | 25 |
| materials | Hardened steel grinder, Sieve screens, Inconel char chamber |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 200 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 20000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Glass-fiber filler for sintering
- Hazardous-element residue
Requires
- De-metallised substrates
- Grinder (~200 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "PCB Substrate Disposal" (L3-WMS-ELEC-PCB). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-WMS-ELEC-PCB
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.