Life cycle assessment of SBS modified bitumen waterproofing membrane

Abstract

Building waterproofing membranes constitute essential components of construction materials. This study utilizes the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to develop a comprehensive life cycle inventory and conduct an environmental impact assessment of typical styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified bitumen waterproofing membrane products. The main research objective of this paper is to identify the key factors influencing the environmental impact of products and to provide data for the selection of green materials in the construction industry. The results reveal that the production of raw materials for SBS-modified bitumen waterproofing membranes contributes the most to all environmental impact categories, followed by the transportation and energy production stages, while the production stage of the membranes exhibits a relatively smaller contribution. Within the raw material production stage, the bitumen production process exhibits the highest contribution to fossil fuel depletion (FFP) environmental impact, surpassing 50%. The production process of polyester tire cloth demonstrates the greatest influence on human toxicity potential (HTPc), global warming potential (GWP), freshwater eutrophication (FEP), marine eutrophication potential (MEP), and mineral resource scarcity potential (SOP), accounting for 54.63%, 32.86%, 68.55%, 72.41%, and 61.69%, respectively. Additionally, the production process of base oil exhibits the most significant contribution to fine particulate matter formation (PMFP) and terrestrial acidification potential (AP) among the environmental impact indicators. Variations in the quantities of polyester tire cloth and base oil exhibit the most notable influence on the environmental indicators of the product. Specifically, the sensitivity analysis reveals that polyester tire cloth has the greatest impact on mineral resource scarcity potential (SOP); base oil exhibits the highest sensitivity to fossil fuel depletion (FFP).