Eco-efficiency analysis: comparison of the two solvents propylene carbonate and cresol for the production of wire coatings

An echo-efficiency analysis was performed by the BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, in order to compare the environmental impacts and the costs from all life cycle stages of two copper wire enamel solvents, cresol and propylene carbonate. Wire coatings, especially those based on polyester imides, are traditionally produced with cresol as the solvent. In literature, it was established that propylene carbonate can also be used as an alternative solvent. The echo-efficiency analysis shows that the environmental impacts between the two solvents are more striking than the differences in the life-cycle costs. Propylene carbonate is the most echo-efficient copper wire enamel solvent.