No / This study investigates the influence of length scale effects (micro- and macro-injection molded parts) and mold temperature on the epitaxial growth and morphological characteristics in injection-molded bars of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends. After preparing the blends with an iPP content of 70 wt% via melt extrusion, the injection-molded bars were formed using both micro and conventional injection molding. Samples were subsequently prepared from the moulded components to allow investigation of the internal morphology using wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The results indicated that the matching of micro scale and appropriate mold temperature was most favorable for epitaxial crystallization. The micro-parts had a large fraction of shear layer compared with macro-parts. The SEM observations showed that the shear layer of the former consisted of a highly oriented shish-kebab structure. Moreover, the effects of different methods of injection molding on the morphological characteristics of the micro-parts and macro-parts in different layers were elucidated in detail using PLM and SEM.

The recycling industry which is efficiently functioning now has technical expertise, contented consumers, and resource availability and capital contributors. The potential inflow of new material into this existing system should be able to fulfill all the needs of the stakeholders involved in it. With most of the polymer wastes received from the polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), they are available in abundant crossing the threshold quantity (Cornell, 2007) needed for the recycling process to be carried for every single polymer starting from the individual source separation till the granulation of pellets with active investment for the potential expectancy of returns in the recycling market targeting suitable consumers. Unlike other polymers like polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene (PP), biopolymers fail to fulfill the necessary criteria of being in threshold quantity to carry out the recycling process. With the very small inflow of biopolymers in the recycling industry, standalone recycling units for the same is not highly performed and appreciated. In addition to this, there are possible means and ways of the biopolymers getting infused into the conventional petrochemical polymers either through the mis-throws in manual sorting or in automated sorting. Though the studies so far don't have any substantial threatening effect over the biopolymer infusion, still it has its adversity affecting the industry by other means. The volumes of biopolymers are presently small and contamination of biopolymer in the plastic waste stream is presently not a problem. However, with increasing volumes of biopolymers, this can be a problem. Contamination could then be a future problem. This study investigates that problem and checks the truth to the claims of biopolymer infusion in the conventional post-consumer recycling systems affecting the quality of the recyclates. In order to investigate this, a biodegradable biopolymer (TPS & PHA) will be mixed into a conventional polymer (PE, PP, PET) at various percentages. The mechanical and thermal properties are then measured as a function of the percentage biopolymer. In a second part of the project, the blend of conventional plastics and bioplastic is conditioned in humidity in order to simulate what will happen to a conventional polymer that has been contaminated with a biopolymer in a humid climate.

Neste trabalho uma blenda foi criada utilizando poliestireno de alto impacto (PSAI) e polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD), ambos pós consumo, com o intuito de empregar esta blenda na fabricação de um produto de tecnologia assistiva para deficientes visuais. Os polímeros foram processados por extrusão e injeção, individualmente, sob diferentes condições de temperatura de processamento e velocidade da rosca a fim de avaliar a influência destes parâmetros em suas propriedades de fluidez, resistência ao impacto, resistência à tração, módulo de elasticidade, dureza e estabilidade térmica. O método estatístico denominado projeto de experimentos (DOE) foi utilizado, através do software Statgraphics Centurion®, para que se pudesse obter dados quantitativos sobre a influência de cada parâmetro de processamento sobre as propriedades avaliadas. Através do delineamento estatístico foi possível a definição dos coeficientes de regressão para cada propriedade, o que possibilita a previsão dos resultados ante o processamento. Blendas foram preparadas variando a concentração de cada polímero, em massa, e compatibilizadas utilizando copolímero de estireno-(etileno-butileno)-estireno (SEBS) com o intuito de avaliar sua miscibilidade, propriedades mecânicas e térmicas, além de demonstrar a viabilidade da utilização de uma destas para fabricação do produto desenvolvido. Ficou evidenciado a imiscibilidade dos polímeros utilizados devido à redução das propriedades após a mistura, no entanto os resultados se mostraram adequados ao produto em questão. A blenda PSAI/PEAD/SEBS contendo 25/75/2 %, em massa, apresentou melhores resultados para resistência ao impacto e dureza e foi escolhida para fabricação do produto final. Este trabalho demostrou a viabilidade da utilização de resíduos poliméricos pósconsumo para a fabricação de um produto de tecnologia assistiva, contribuindo, simultaneamente, para a inclusão social e sustentabilidade. / In this work, a blend was created using HIPS and HDPE, both post-consume, with the intent of using this blend in the creation of an assistive technologic product for visually impaired subjects. The polymers were, individually, processed by extrusion and injection under different processing temperature and screw speed to assess the influence of these parameters on its own flow properties, impact strenght, tensile strenght, elasticity modulus, hardness and thermal stability. The statistical method known as design of experiments (DOE) was used, through the software Statgraphics Centurion®, so that one could obtain quantitative data on the influence of each parameter processing on the assessed properties. Through statistical design it was possible to define the regression coefficients for each property which enables, before processing, the prediction of the results. Blends were prepared by varying the concentration of each polymer by weight and compatibilized using SEBS in order to evaluate their miscibility, mechanical properties and thermal ones, apart from demonstrating the feasibility of using one of these for the manufacture of the developed product. It was evidenced immiscible polymers used due to the reduction of properties after mixing, nevertheless the results were suitable for the product. The HIPS/HDPE/SEBS blend containing 25 /75/ 2%, in weight, showed the best results for resistance of impact and hardness and it was chosen to produce the final product. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using post-consume polymer waste to manufacture an assistive technology product while contributing to social inclusion and sustainability.

The recycling industry which is efficiently functioning now has technical expertise, contented consumers, and resource availability and capital contributors. The potential inflow of new material into this existing system should be able to fulfill all the needs of the stakeholders involved in it. With most of the polymer wastes received from the polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), they are available in abundant crossing the threshold quantity (Cornell, 2007) needed for the recycling process to be carried for every single polymer starting from the individual source separation till the granulation of pellets with active investment for the potential expectancy of returns in the recycling market targeting suitable consumers. Unlike other polymers like polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene (PP), biopolymers fail to fulfill the necessary criteria of being in threshold quantity to carry out the recycling process. With the very small inflow of biopolymers in the recycling industry, standalone recycling units for the same is not highly performed and appreciated. In addition to this, there are possible means and ways of the biopolymers getting infused into the conventional petrochemical polymers either through the mis-throws in manual sorting or in automated sorting. Though the studies so far don't have any substantial threatening effect over the biopolymer infusion, still it has its adversity affecting the industry by other means. The volumes of biopolymers are presently small and contamination of biopolymer in the plastic waste stream is presently not a problem. However, with increasing volumes of biopolymers, this can be a problem. Contamination could then be a future problem. This study investigates that problem and checks the truth to the claims of biopolymer infusion in the conventional post-consumer recycling systems affecting the quality of the recyclates. In order to investigate this, a biodegradable biopolymer (TPS & PHA) will be mixed into a conventional polymer (PE, PP, PET) at various percentages. The mechanical and thermal properties are then measured as a function of the percentage biopolymer. In a second part of the project, the blend of conventional plastics and bioplastic is conditioned in humidity in order to simulate what will happen to a conventional polymer that has been contaminated with a biopolymer in a humid climate.

Neste trabalho uma blenda foi criada utilizando poliestireno de alto impacto (PSAI) e polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD), ambos pós consumo, com o intuito de empregar esta blenda na fabricação de um produto de tecnologia assistiva para deficientes visuais. Os polímeros foram processados por extrusão e injeção, individualmente, sob diferentes condições de temperatura de processamento e velocidade da rosca a fim de avaliar a influência destes parâmetros em suas propriedades de fluidez, resistência ao impacto, resistência à tração, módulo de elasticidade, dureza e estabilidade térmica. O método estatístico denominado projeto de experimentos (DOE) foi utilizado, através do software Statgraphics Centurion®, para que se pudesse obter dados quantitativos sobre a influência de cada parâmetro de processamento sobre as propriedades avaliadas. Através do delineamento estatístico foi possível a definição dos coeficientes de regressão para cada propriedade, o que possibilita a previsão dos resultados ante o processamento. Blendas foram preparadas variando a concentração de cada polímero, em massa, e compatibilizadas utilizando copolímero de estireno-(etileno-butileno)-estireno (SEBS) com o intuito de avaliar sua miscibilidade, propriedades mecânicas e térmicas, além de demonstrar a viabilidade da utilização de uma destas para fabricação do produto desenvolvido. Ficou evidenciado a imiscibilidade dos polímeros utilizados devido à redução das propriedades após a mistura, no entanto os resultados se mostraram adequados ao produto em questão. A blenda PSAI/PEAD/SEBS contendo 25/75/2 %, em massa, apresentou melhores resultados para resistência ao impacto e dureza e foi escolhida para fabricação do produto final. Este trabalho demostrou a viabilidade da utilização de resíduos poliméricos pósconsumo para a fabricação de um produto de tecnologia assistiva, contribuindo, simultaneamente, para a inclusão social e sustentabilidade. / In this work, a blend was created using HIPS and HDPE, both post-consume, with the intent of using this blend in the creation of an assistive technologic product for visually impaired subjects. The polymers were, individually, processed by extrusion and injection under different processing temperature and screw speed to assess the influence of these parameters on its own flow properties, impact strenght, tensile strenght, elasticity modulus, hardness and thermal stability. The statistical method known as design of experiments (DOE) was used, through the software Statgraphics Centurion®, so that one could obtain quantitative data on the influence of each parameter processing on the assessed properties. Through statistical design it was possible to define the regression coefficients for each property which enables, before processing, the prediction of the results. Blends were prepared by varying the concentration of each polymer by weight and compatibilized using SEBS in order to evaluate their miscibility, mechanical properties and thermal ones, apart from demonstrating the feasibility of using one of these for the manufacture of the developed product. It was evidenced immiscible polymers used due to the reduction of properties after mixing, nevertheless the results were suitable for the product. The HIPS/HDPE/SEBS blend containing 25 /75/ 2%, in weight, showed the best results for resistance of impact and hardness and it was chosen to produce the final product. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using post-consume polymer waste to manufacture an assistive technology product while contributing to social inclusion and sustainability.

Neste trabalho uma blenda foi criada utilizando poliestireno de alto impacto (PSAI) e polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD), ambos pós consumo, com o intuito de empregar esta blenda na fabricação de um produto de tecnologia assistiva para deficientes visuais. Os polímeros foram processados por extrusão e injeção, individualmente, sob diferentes condições de temperatura de processamento e velocidade da rosca a fim de avaliar a influência destes parâmetros em suas propriedades de fluidez, resistência ao impacto, resistência à tração, módulo de elasticidade, dureza e estabilidade térmica. O método estatístico denominado projeto de experimentos (DOE) foi utilizado, através do software Statgraphics Centurion®, para que se pudesse obter dados quantitativos sobre a influência de cada parâmetro de processamento sobre as propriedades avaliadas. Através do delineamento estatístico foi possível a definição dos coeficientes de regressão para cada propriedade, o que possibilita a previsão dos resultados ante o processamento. Blendas foram preparadas variando a concentração de cada polímero, em massa, e compatibilizadas utilizando copolímero de estireno-(etileno-butileno)-estireno (SEBS) com o intuito de avaliar sua miscibilidade, propriedades mecânicas e térmicas, além de demonstrar a viabilidade da utilização de uma destas para fabricação do produto desenvolvido. Ficou evidenciado a imiscibilidade dos polímeros utilizados devido à redução das propriedades após a mistura, no entanto os resultados se mostraram adequados ao produto em questão. A blenda PSAI/PEAD/SEBS contendo 25/75/2 %, em massa, apresentou melhores resultados para resistência ao impacto e dureza e foi escolhida para fabricação do produto final. Este trabalho demostrou a viabilidade da utilização de resíduos poliméricos pósconsumo para a fabricação de um produto de tecnologia assistiva, contribuindo, simultaneamente, para a inclusão social e sustentabilidade. / In this work, a blend was created using HIPS and HDPE, both post-consume, with the intent of using this blend in the creation of an assistive technologic product for visually impaired subjects. The polymers were, individually, processed by extrusion and injection under different processing temperature and screw speed to assess the influence of these parameters on its own flow properties, impact strenght, tensile strenght, elasticity modulus, hardness and thermal stability. The statistical method known as design of experiments (DOE) was used, through the software Statgraphics Centurion®, so that one could obtain quantitative data on the influence of each parameter processing on the assessed properties. Through statistical design it was possible to define the regression coefficients for each property which enables, before processing, the prediction of the results. Blends were prepared by varying the concentration of each polymer by weight and compatibilized using SEBS in order to evaluate their miscibility, mechanical properties and thermal ones, apart from demonstrating the feasibility of using one of these for the manufacture of the developed product. It was evidenced immiscible polymers used due to the reduction of properties after mixing, nevertheless the results were suitable for the product. The HIPS/HDPE/SEBS blend containing 25 /75/ 2%, in weight, showed the best results for resistance of impact and hardness and it was chosen to produce the final product. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using post-consume polymer waste to manufacture an assistive technology product while contributing to social inclusion and sustainability.