Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-74).

The polymer materials industry is heavily dependent on the use of petroleum based plastics. This poses a problem, as the world is facing ongoing petroleum supply problems. A need exists for a bio-carbon based polymer material that has the performance and cost of currently used petroleum plastics. However, the overall performance of current bio-based plastics indicate that they must be somehow supplemented to achieve the properties of that of petroleum-based polymers. The low impact strength and thermal stability of poly(lactic acid), PLA are targets for improvement. One option is for development is through blending with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The viability and efficacy of using these two polymers as blending partners is investigated. The PLA used in these studies has unique and interesting crystallization properties. These have been examined and detailed in part 1. The second part of study includes neat polymer properties, miscibility analysis, and large scale process results. This results in an optimized blending ratio on which to go forward with development. The mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties are investigated in these studies. Significance of this research and development is widespread, as the material developed has the potential to reduce the use of petroleum-based carbon in plastics. / The financial support from the 2010 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)/University of Guelph -Bioeconomy for Industrial Uses Research Program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) AUTO21 NCE project and Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), to carry out this research is gratefully acknowledged.

No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / Gurpreet Singh / 3D-printing is a popular manufacturing technique for making complex parts or small quantity batches. Currently, the applications of 3D-printing are limited by the material properties of the printed material. The processing parameters of commonly available 3D printing processes constrain the materials used to a small set of primarily plastic materials, which have relatively low strength and electrical conductivity. Adding filler materials has the potential to improve these properties and expand the applications of 3D printed material. Carbon nanomaterials show promise as filler materials due to their extremely high conductivity, strength, and surface area. In this work, Graphite, Carbon Nanotubes, and Carbon Black (CB) were mixed with raw Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) pellets. The resulting mixture was extruded to form a composite filament. Tensile test specimens and electrical conductivity specimens were manufactured by Fused Deposition Method (FDM) 3D-printing using this composite filament as the feedstock material. Weight percentages of filler materials were varied from 0-20 wt% to see the effect of increasing filler loading on the composite materials. Additional tensile test specimens were fabricated and post-processed with heat and microwave irradiation in attempt to improve adhesion between layers of the 3D-printed materials. Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy tests on 15 wt% Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) composite specimens showed an increase in DC electrical conductivity of over 6 orders of magnitude compared to neat ABS samples. This 15 wt% specimen had DC electrical conductivity of 8.74x10−6 S/cm, indicating semi-conducting behavior. MWCNT specimens with under 5 wt% filler loading and Graphite specimens with under 1 wt% filler loading showed strong insulating behavior similar to neat ABS. Tensile tests showed increases in tensile strength at 5 wt% CB and 0.5 wt% MWCNT. Placing the specimens in the oven at 135 °C for an hour caused increased the stiffness of the composite specimens.

No description available.

This master’s thesis was conducted at Linköping University in collaboration with ToyotaMaterial Handling in Mjölby to explore potential applications of recycled plastic in forklifttrucks. The primary objective was to identify the most suitable recycled plastic to be usedon the top cover of the BT Levio LWI160, which served as the focal point of this project.This was done in order to address the research questions: "What types of mechanical- andindustrial design requirements are affected when using recycled plastic (of various composi-tions), and to which new requirements and changes will result from this?" and "What are themajor mechanical- and industrial design challenges, advantages & disadvantages of switchingto recycled plastic material, considering economic and sustainability factors." The study concludes that the requirements of the top cover will largely remain unchanged.The use of PP 20GF necessitates further testing for structural integrity and quality con-sistency in recycled material. This material’s harder, less ductile nature may require newimpact testing and recycling processes. Industrial design benefits include simplified colourchoices due to the material’s transparent base hue, although the dark brown colour of re-cycled plastics limits options. Ensuring consistency across batches, minimising costs, andaddressing surface defects and purity issues are critical challenges. Despite uncertainties,switching to recycled plastic can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 24% and attract environ-mentally conscious customers

Orientador: Alexandre Luiz Souto [Unesp] Borges / Resumo: Este estudo visou sintetizar e caracterizar mantas não tecidas de nanofibras (NFs) do acrilonitrila butadieno estireno (ABS), poliamida 6 (PA6) e poliestireno (PS), e avaliar sua capacidade de ser utilizada como reforço no polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA). O ABS foi dissolvido em diclorometano e acetona, a PA6 pelo 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol e o PS pela dimetilformamida, em uma concentração definida em estudo piloto. Após determinados os melhores parâmetros de eletrofiação (tensão contínua, razão de fluxo e distância agulha/anteparo) as amostras de cada grupo foram analisadas em microscopia eletrônica de varredura, análise de molhabilidade, análise de difratometria de raios X, espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier, diâmetro das fibras e resistência a tração. As NFs produzidas foram incluídas na área de tração dos corpos de prova em resina acrílica ativada termicamente (RAAT) conforme ISO1567, perfazendo 4 grupos (n=20), 1 controle (Grupo 1) e 3 experimentais (Grupo 2, RAAT+NF/ABS; Grupo 2, RAAT+NF/PA6; Grupo 4, RAAT+NF/PS), para ensaio de flexão três pontos para analisar suas propriedades mecânicas, como: módulos de elasticidade e resistência a flexão. De acordo com os testes de caracterização, as mantas se apresentaram hidrofóbicas, não houve mudança de sua estrutura polimérica, concluindo-se então que a técnica da eletrofiação foi promissora na síntese de mantas de NFs. A variação dos parâmetros afetou diretamente a morfologia, resultando em fibras u... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study aimed to synthesize and characterize non-woven blankets of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide 6 (PA6) and polystyrene (PS) nanofibers (NFs), and to evaluate their ability to be used as reinforcement in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). ABS was dissolved in dichloromethane and acetone, PA6 by 1,1,1,3,3,3- hexafluoro-2-propanol and PS by dimethylformamide at a concentration defined in a pilot study. After determining the best electrospun parameters (continuous voltage, flow rate and needle/shield distance) the samples from each group were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, wettability analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fiber diameter and tensile strength. The NFs produced were included in the tensile area of the thermally activated acrylic resin (RAAT) specimens according to ISO1567, making up 4 groups (n = 20), 1 control (Group 1) and 3 experimental (Group 2, RAAT+NF/ABS; Group 3, RAAT+NF/PA6 and Group 4 (RAAT+NF/PS), for three point bending test to analyze their mechanical properties, as: modules of elasticity and flexural strength. According to the characterization tests, the blankets were hydrophobic, there was no change in their polymeric structure, concluding that the electrospinning technique was promising in the synthesis of NFs blankets. The parameters variation affected directly in the morphology, resulting in uniform, bulky and without defects (beads) NFs blankets. The Groups 3 and 4 (NF/PA6+RA... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

[pt] O Acrilonitrila-Butadieno-Estireno (ABS) é um polímero de grande uso industrial, sendo empregado em inúmeros produtos. Muitas de suas aplicações necessitam de uma elevada resistência a combustão seja pela presença de cargas elétricas (Efeito Joule) ou a exposição a ambientes de altas temperaturas. No entanto, o ABS, de modo semelhante a maioria dos polímeros, não é tão resistente a combustão, sendo necessário o emprego de aditivos Retardantes de Chamas (RC). A introdução desses aditivos pode, entretanto, acarretar alteração nas propriedades mecânicas, de forma que é necessário se comparar o comportamento do material com e sem aditivos. Particularmente importante é o comportamento a longo prazo, como a fluência. Assim, nesse trabalho foi avaliado o comportamento a fluência do ABS sem aditivo e de três sistemas ABS/RC. Foi usado um sistema empregando um aditivo comercial à base de bromo (ABS − Br), que serviu como base de comparação e dois sistemas recentemente desenvolvidos, empregando bio-retardantes, a saber: ácido tânico (TA) e polifosfato de amônio (APP). Os resultados dos ensaios mostraram que o aditivo comercial não acarretou variação da vida em fluência em relação ao ABS sem aditivo. Por outro lado, os resultados indicaram que a vida em fluência foi reduzida quando o aditivo APP foi incorporado e que aumentou quando o TA foi adicionado. Os dados experimentais dos ensaios de fluência foram usados para avaliar o comportamento viscoelástico dos quatro grupos de materiais. O ABS teve seu comportamento adequadamente representado pelo modelo de Burgers, assim como a ABS com aditivo à base de bromo. O modelo que melhor descreveu o comportamento do ABS com APP foi o modelo modificado de Burgers (Streched Burgers). Nem todas as amostras do ABS com TA apresentaram fluência no intervalo de tempo usado e o modelo que melhor descreveu o comportamento foi o do sólido linear padrão. / [en] Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) is a polymer of great industrial use, being used in numerous products. Many of its applications require a high resistance to combustion, either due to the presence of electrical charges (Joule Effect) or exposure to high temperature environments. However, ABS, like most polymers, is not as resistant to combustion, requiring the use of Flame Retardant (RC) additives. The introduction of these additives can, however, lead to changes in the mechanical properties, so it is necessary to compare the behavior of the material with and without additives. Particularly important is long-term behavior such as fluency. Thus, in this work, the creep behavior of ABS without additive and of three ABS/RC systems was evaluated. A system employing a commercial bromine-based additive (ABS − Br) was used, which served as a basis for comparison and two recently developed systems employing bio-retardants, namely: tannic acid (TA) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) . The test results showed that the commercial additive did not cause a change in creep life compared to ABS without additive. On the other hand, the results indicated that the creep life was reduced when the APP additive was incorporated and that it increased when the TA was added. Experimental data from creep tests were used to evaluate the viscoelastic behavior of the four groups of materials. ABS had its behavior adequately represented by the Burgers model, as well as ABS with bromine-based additive. The model that best described the behavior of ABS with APP was the modified Burgers model (Streched Burgers). Not all ABS samples with TA showed fluence in the time interval used and the model that best described the behavior was the standard linear solid.

In an attempt to improve the quality in finite element analysis of thermoformed components, a method for predicting the thickness distribution is presented. The strain induced anisotropic material behaviour in the amorphous polymers of concern is also taken into account in the method. The method comprises of obtaining raw material data from experiments, followed by a simulation of the vacuum thermoforming process where hyperelastic material behaviour is assumed. The theory of hyperelasticity that was applied was based on the Ogden model and implemented in the FE-software LS-DYNA. Material behaviour from thermoformed prototypes is examined by experiments and implemented together with the mapped results from the thermoforming simulation in a succeeding FE-model. For the latter, the three-parameter Barlat model was suggested, giving the possibility to account for anisotropic material behaviour based on an initial plastic strain.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-05-15T11:16:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stéfany Mayara Ferreira de Rezende - 2018.pdf: 31211798 bytes, checksum: d3b61dc015a1246e10bf60722a5f9520 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-05-15T12:25:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stéfany Mayara Ferreira de Rezende - 2018.pdf: 31211798 bytes, checksum: d3b61dc015a1246e10bf60722a5f9520 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-15T12:25:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Stéfany Mayara Ferreira de Rezende - 2018.pdf: 31211798 bytes, checksum: d3b61dc015a1246e10bf60722a5f9520 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-02 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / There are several techniques used for the manufacture of three-dimensional models, but due to their ease of use, material extrusion has been widely applied in specific areas, since such as engineering as personal use. Such factors indicate that in the coming years many of the everyday plastic products commonly produced by conventional methods will be replaced by home printed objects in order to minimize costs and customization. Thus, knowing the influence of the process parameters is fundamental for the good performance of the products made by this technology. Thus, this work is dedicated to the study of the mechanical properties of parts constructed by material extrusion and the influence of parameters of the material and the printing process on the final characteristics of the produced object. A brief review of the literature is carried out in order to know the mechanical properties already identified and which methods are most used. It has been identified that the mechanical properties of the printed pieces are significantly affected by the printing orientation and airgap parameters. An experimental approach is used, aiming to evaluate the influence of parameters, shape and fill percentage, on the mechanical strength of the made objects. In addition, an initial and introductory study was carried out in order to analyze the functional characteristics of a prosthesis made by additive manufacture. The accomplishment of the same, aims to identify the limitations of the device and to provide future improvements. / Diversas são as técnicas utilizadas para a manufatura de modelos tridimensionais, contudo em virtude de sua facilidade de uso, a impressão 3D por extrusão de material tem sido largamente empregada, desde em áreas específicas como medicina como para uso pessoal. Tais fatores indicam, que nos próximos anos, muitos dos produtos plásticos de uso cotidiano, comumente produzidos por métodos convencionais, serão substituídos por objetos impressos em casa, tendo em vista a minimização de custos e a customização. Voltando-se para a ampliação da aplicabilidade da impressão 3D em engenharia, é fundamental conhecer a influência dos parâmetros de processo de modo a assegurar o bom desempenho dos produtos confeccionados por esta tecnologia. Dessa forma, este trabalho dedica-se ao estudo das propriedades mecânicas de peças construídas por extrusão de material e a influência de parâmetros do material e do processo de impressão, nas características finais do objeto produzido. Uma breve revisão da literatura é realizada visando conhecer as propriedades mecânicas identificadas e quais os métodos mais empregados. Foi identificado que a orientação de impressão e o entretramas afetam relevantemente as propriedades mecânicas da peça impressa. Por outro lado, uma abordagem experimental também é utilizada objetivando avaliar a influência dos parâmetros, forma e porcentagem de preenchimento, na resistência mecânica dos objetos confeccionados. Além disso, foi efetuado um estudo inicial e introdutório tendo em vista analisar as características funcionais de uma prótese de mão confeccionada por manufatura aditiva. A realização do mesmo, visa identificar as limitações do dispositivo e propiciar melhorias futuras. Additive Manufacturing