The modified central paradigm of materials science and engineering in the extraction and development of new and recycled materials

Abstract

In order to meet the ever-growing human needs, the development of new materials implies generation of byproducts or residues that might pollute the environment. This has been a fact not only in massive commercial production but also at pilot-plant and laboratory scale. In today's world the issue of residues not only cannot be neglected anymore but should also constitute a key requirement for any new research or technology proposal. Consequently, sustainability, reutilisation and recycling aspects should be considered from the outset as equal factors. This can be achieved systematically and methodologically through ‘the modified central paradigm of materials science and engineering’, described previously by the authors as ‘processing → structure → property → performance → reutilisation/recyclability’ and presented here through a new graphical model. This modified central paradigm is equally valid during the extraction and production of a given material for the first time as well as during its reutilisation/recycling.