Pedestrian protection performance becomes more and more in focus for the car manufactures and systems to reduce injury risk are under development. A wider understanding of both the present and the future windscreen performance in free moving headform testing is needed to optimize these systems. The purpose of this thesis was therefore to learn and understand windscreen behaviour when subjected to head impact and to gain knowledge of CAE status for head impact in windscreens from a pedestrian point of view. A literature review concluded that there are different ways to model a windscreen. It was found that the computer material models for laminated windscreen glass were not capable of fully representing the behaviour of this material under all impact conditions, particularly the non-linear behaviour after fracture or failure. Experimental testing on three different windscreen models, with a free moving headform in a horizontal impactor, has been performed. Test set up was according to Euro NCAP pedestrian testing protocol and three different windscreen angles were tested. The parameter investigated was curvature and HIC and deformation depth on the windscreen were used as evaluation tools. Deformation was measured with a laser positioned behind the windscreen at impact. Film analysis and integration of headform accelerations were used as comparison. The testing concludes that different curvature alone will not have a big influence on HIC and deformation.   Keywords: PVB laminated windscreen, pedestrian, impact, free moving headform

No description available.

A vasta gama de sistemas poliméricos classificados como blendas tem sido alvo crescente no meio acadêmico e científico. A possibilidade de obtenção de propriedades combinadas e múltiplas, associada a incorporações de blendas poliméricas, enriquece a condição de pesquisa abrindo assim uma extensa área de atuação. Neste trabalho foi proposto o estudo de mistura de composto de poli (cloreto de vinila) plastificado com resíduo de poli (vinil butiral), proveniente de laminados para produção de para-brisas da indústria automotiva, bem como a investigação do efeito da irradiação gama com dose absorvida de 25 kGy, 30 kGy e 40 kGy, controlado com uso de dosímetro de PMMA e taxa de dose equivalente de 0-10 kGy.h-1. Foram analisadas variações das propriedades mecânicas e térmicas das amostras antes e após exposição à radiação gama. As formulações foram constituídas em diferentes concentrações: composto de PVC-C, resíduo de PVB-R, PVC-C/PVB-R 90/10, PVC-C/PVB-R 50/50 e PVC-R/PVB-R 50/50. O composto de poli (cloreto de vinila) foi formulado e aditivado, apresentando comportamento de um elastômero termoplástico, produto flexível. Foram incorporadas aparas moídas de poli (vinil butiral), provenientes de laminados para produção de para-brisas. Ambos os materiais foram incorporados em extrusora granuladora tipo rosca simples e submetidos ao processo de calandragem para efetivação da mistura e formação de mantas plásticas. As mantas foram irradiadas em um reator multipropósito de 60Co e caracterizadas para verificação das propriedades mecânicas e térmicas. Para tanto, as blendas após exposição à radiação gama apresentaram propriedades mecânicas e térmicas intermediarias as propriedades dos seus componentes, mostrando-se um material resistente e de baixo custo. Por meio da microscopia eletrônica de varredura obteve uma redução nos vasos interfaciais mostrando um aumento na capacidade de percolação do PVB na matriz de PVC, favorecendo suas propriedades físicas. / The wide range of polymer systems classified as blends has been increasingly targeted in the academic and scientific milieu. The possibility of obtaining multiple and combined properties, combined with the incorporation of polymer blends, enriches the research condition, thus opening up an extensive area of performance. In this work the study of the poly (vinyl butyral) plasticized polyvinyl chloride mixture from laminates for automotive windshield production was investigated, as well as the investigation of the effect of gamma irradiation with absorbed dose of 25 kGy, 30 kGy and 40 kGy, controlled with use of PMMA dosimeter and equivalent dose rate of 0-10 kGy.h-1. Variations of the mechanical and thermal properties of the samples were analyzed before and after exposure to gamma radiation. The formulations were constituted in different concentrations: PVC-C compound, PVB-R residue, PVC-C/PVB-R 90/10, PVC-C/PVB-R 50/50 and PVC-R/PVB-R 50/50. The polyvinyl chloride compound was formulated and added, exhibiting the behavior of a thermoplastic elastomer, a flexible product. Poly (vinyl butyral) ground chips were produced from laminates for the production of windshields. Both materials were incorporated in a single-thread granulator extruder and submitted to the calendering process to effect the mixing and formation of plastic blankets. The blankets were irradiated in a 60Co multipurpose reactor and characterized for verification of mechanical and thermal properties. In order to do so, the blends after exposure to gamma radiation presented mechanical properties and intermediate thermal properties of their components, showing a resistant material and low cost. By means of the scanning electron microscopy it obtained a reduction in the interfacial vessels showing an increase in the percolation capacity of the PVB in the PVC matrix, favoring its physical properties.

A vasta gama de sistemas poliméricos classificados como blendas tem sido alvo crescente no meio acadêmico e científico. A possibilidade de obtenção de propriedades combinadas e múltiplas, associada a incorporações de blendas poliméricas, enriquece a condição de pesquisa abrindo assim uma extensa área de atuação. Neste trabalho foi proposto o estudo de mistura de composto de poli (cloreto de vinila) plastificado com resíduo de poli (vinil butiral), proveniente de laminados para produção de para-brisas da indústria automotiva, bem como a investigação do efeito da irradiação gama com dose absorvida de 25 kGy, 30 kGy e 40 kGy, controlado com uso de dosímetro de PMMA e taxa de dose equivalente de 0-10 kGy.h-1. Foram analisadas variações das propriedades mecânicas e térmicas das amostras antes e após exposição à radiação gama. As formulações foram constituídas em diferentes concentrações: composto de PVC-C, resíduo de PVB-R, PVC-C/PVB-R 90/10, PVC-C/PVB-R 50/50 e PVC-R/PVB-R 50/50. O composto de poli (cloreto de vinila) foi formulado e aditivado, apresentando comportamento de um elastômero termoplástico, produto flexível. Foram incorporadas aparas moídas de poli (vinil butiral), provenientes de laminados para produção de para-brisas. Ambos os materiais foram incorporados em extrusora granuladora tipo rosca simples e submetidos ao processo de calandragem para efetivação da mistura e formação de mantas plásticas. As mantas foram irradiadas em um reator multipropósito de 60Co e caracterizadas para verificação das propriedades mecânicas e térmicas. Para tanto, as blendas após exposição à radiação gama apresentaram propriedades mecânicas e térmicas intermediarias as propriedades dos seus componentes, mostrando-se um material resistente e de baixo custo. Por meio da microscopia eletrônica de varredura obteve uma redução nos vasos interfaciais mostrando um aumento na capacidade de percolação do PVB na matriz de PVC, favorecendo suas propriedades físicas. / The wide range of polymer systems classified as blends has been increasingly targeted in the academic and scientific milieu. The possibility of obtaining multiple and combined properties, combined with the incorporation of polymer blends, enriches the research condition, thus opening up an extensive area of performance. In this work the study of the poly (vinyl butyral) plasticized polyvinyl chloride mixture from laminates for automotive windshield production was investigated, as well as the investigation of the effect of gamma irradiation with absorbed dose of 25 kGy, 30 kGy and 40 kGy, controlled with use of PMMA dosimeter and equivalent dose rate of 0-10 kGy.h-1. Variations of the mechanical and thermal properties of the samples were analyzed before and after exposure to gamma radiation. The formulations were constituted in different concentrations: PVC-C compound, PVB-R residue, PVC-C/PVB-R 90/10, PVC-C/PVB-R 50/50 and PVC-R/PVB-R 50/50. The polyvinyl chloride compound was formulated and added, exhibiting the behavior of a thermoplastic elastomer, a flexible product. Poly (vinyl butyral) ground chips were produced from laminates for the production of windshields. Both materials were incorporated in a single-thread granulator extruder and submitted to the calendering process to effect the mixing and formation of plastic blankets. The blankets were irradiated in a 60Co multipurpose reactor and characterized for verification of mechanical and thermal properties. In order to do so, the blends after exposure to gamma radiation presented mechanical properties and intermediate thermal properties of their components, showing a resistant material and low cost. By means of the scanning electron microscopy it obtained a reduction in the interfacial vessels showing an increase in the percolation capacity of the PVB in the PVC matrix, favoring its physical properties.

Bacterial infections are becoming progressively more difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance and the decreasing rate at which new antibiotics are brought to market. The Turos laboratory has attempted to tackle this problem for the last 15 years with the discovery of N-thiolated β-lactams leading to the design of polyacrylate nanoparticles to deliver these and other drugs. Chapter 1 discusses many reported instances of utilizing different types of polymeric nanoparticles to deliver antibiotics. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA), poly(styrene-co-butylacrylate), and chitosan are the main polymers used to make nanoparticles. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis, antibacterial activity, and mechanism of action of N-acyl ciprofloxacins, which have demonstrated in vitro bioactivity against Staphyloccocus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus anthracis, Enterococcus faecalis, Bartonella, and E. coli. Antimicrobial activity was found to diminish with increasingly lipophilic acyl groups of the derivatives. The N-acyl ciprofloxacins were found to utilize the same mechanism of action as the parent drug, ciprofloxacin, however, several exhibited lower mutation frequencies. Chapter 3 discusses the use of the N-acyl ciprofloxacins as probes for experimentation on the poly(vinyl benzoate) nanoparticles. These compounds were incorporated into poly(vinyl benzoate) nanoparticles, also designed in the Turos laboratory, to determine the effects of the lipophilic acyl groups on drug loading and drug release. N-acyl ciprofloxacins with higher lipophilicities (predicted logP values) experienced higher drug loading than the less lipophilic counterparts. However, the nanoparticles were unable to release large amounts of entrapped drug. N-acyl ciprofloxacins with increased hydrophilicity were found to either not be incorporated at all, or in incredibly small amounts. Drug release studies of these drugs indicate that possible the hydrophobic compounds that were associated with the nanoparticles were done so via adsorption onto the surface resulting in a burst release of drug. The work is concluded in Chapter 4, followed by experimental procedures and spectral data in Chapters 5 and 6.

Laminated glass (LG) consists of two or more glass layers bonded by an elasto-polymeric layer, the most commonly used being PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral). LG has improved safety properties compared with single layer glass because the interlayer prevents large sharp pieces from spreading when the glass is broken by impact. Even if one of the layers breaks, the other layer(s) still contribute in carrying the load. Through proper understanding of the interaction between the interlayer and the glass LG could be used in engineering as a load bearing material to a larger extent. This study aims at gaining a deeper knowledge of the behaviour of laminated glass by experimental investigations and by numerical model simulation. To pursue the proposed study, three point bending test with simple support conditions were performed for single layer glass and laminated glass units with three different types of interlayer materials. Corresponding finite element numerical models were created in the software ABAQUS to fit the model with experiment to obtain the bending stiffness and shear stiffness of the interlayer material. The PVB tested showed viscos-elastic material properties, whereas other two interlayer materials, Solutia DG 41 and Sentry Glass, showed linear elastic properties. PVB is the least stiff interlayer material among the three types. Solutia DG 41 and Sentry Glass have similar stiffness, about 13 to 15 times stiffer than the PVB. The behaviour of laminated glass lies in general between the two limits of a layered glass unit with no interaction and a monolithic unit of the same total thickness, depending on the stiffness of the interlayer material. Failure tests of the specimens were also carried out. The obtained strength of glass from four specimens is 80 MPa to 92 MPa with a variation of about 15%. The number of more performed experiments would have better outcome for strength of glass. The bending stiffness of the laminated glass as estimated with the numerical model fitted well with the experimental results with an error of about 2%. Hence the experimentally and numerically obtained results show a good correlation and are thought be possible to use in future larger scale modelling.

No description available.

Tesis por compendio / [EN] Direct methanol fuel cells are feasible devices for efficient electrochemical power generation if some issues can be solved regarding both electrodes and membranes. The research carried out in this Ph.D. thesis has particularly focused on the concerns associated with the membranes. Nafion is the most standard fuel cell membrane material due to its high proton conductivity and exceptional chemical and mechanical stability. However, it suffers from a considerably high methanol permeability and a limited operating temperature (< 80 ºC). The first aspect was addressed with the use of PVA nanofibres and the second one replacing Nafion with SPEEK-based polymers. Composite membranes of Nafion with PVA nanofibres, surface functionalised with sulfonic acid groups, exhibited lower methanol permeabilities due to the intrinsic barrier property of PVA, although proton conductivity was also affected as a result of the non-conducting behaviour of the bulk PVA phase. Remarkably, the nanofibres provided strong mechanical reinforcement which enabled the preparation of low thickness membranes (< 20 micrometres) with reduced ohmic losses, thus counteracting their lower proton conductivities. SPEEK-based membranes were examined for DMFC operation within the intermediate temperature range of 80-140 ºC, in which sluggish electrochemical reactions at the electrodes are accelerated and proton conductivity activated. SPEEK was blended and crosslinked with PVA and PVB polymers for avoiding its dissolution in hot water conditions. SPEEK-PVA compositions showed practical proton conductivities and SPEEK-PVB blends presented very low methanol permeabilities. Nanocomposite membranes composed of SPEEK-30%PVB nanofibres embedded in a SPEEK-35%PVA matrix were prepared and characterised. A nanocomposite membrane crosslinked at 120 ºC revealed promising results for DMFCs operating at intermediate temperatures. Electrospinning is concluded to be a suitable technique for obtaining polymer nanofibre mats intended for advanced composite membranes with improved characteristics and fuel cell performances. / [ES] Las pilas de combustible de metanol directo son dispositivos factibles para la generación electroquímica eficiente de energía eléctrica si se pueden solucionar algunas cuestiones relacionadas tanto con los electrodos como las membranas. La investigación llevada a cabo en esta tesis doctoral se ha centrado particularmente en los problemas asociados con las membranas. Nafion es el material de membrana más común para pilas de combustible debido a su alta conductividad protónica y excepcional estabilidad química y mecánica. Sin embargo, padece una considerablemente alta permeabilidad al metanol y una limitada temperatura de operación (< 80 ºC). El primer aspecto se abordó con el uso de nanofibras de PVA y el segundo reemplazando Nafion con polímeros basados en SPEEK. Membranas compuestas de Nafion con nanofibras de PVA, funcionalizadas en su superficie con grupos ácidos sulfónicos, exhibieron menores permeabilidades al metanol debido a la propiedad barrera intrínseca del PVA, aunque la conductividad protónica también se vio afectada como resultado del comportamiento global no conductor de la fase de PVA. Remarcablemente, las nanofibras proporcionaron un refuerzo mecánico fuerte que permitió la preparación de membranas de bajo espesor (< 20 micrómetros) con unas pérdidas óhmicas reducidas, así contrarrestando sus menores conductividades protónicas. Se examinaron membranas basadas en SPEEK para la operación de pilas de combustible de metanol directo dentro del rango intermedio de temperaturas entre 80-140 ºC, en el que las lentas reacciones electroquímicas en los electrodos se aceleran y la conductividad protónica se activa. El SPEEK se combinó y entrecruzó con los polímeros de PVA y PVB para evitar su disolución en condiciones de agua caliente. Las composiciones de SPEEK-PVA mostraron conductividades protónicas funcionales y las mezclas de SPEEK-PVB presentaron permeabilidades al metanol muy bajas. Se prepararon y caracterizaron membranas nanocompuestas constituidas por nanofibras de SPEEK-30%PVB embebidas en una matriz de SPEEK-35%PVA. Una membrana nanocompuesta entrecruzada a 120 ºC reveló resultados prometedores para pilas de combustible de metanol directo operando a temperaturas intermedias. Se puede concluir que la electrohilatura es una técnica apropiada para la obtención de mallas de nanofibras poliméricas destinadas a membranas compuestas avanzadas con características y rendimientos en pilas de combustible mejorados. / [CA] Les piles de combustible de metanol directe són dispositius factibles per a la generació electroquímica eficient d'energia elèctrica si es poden solucionar algunes qüestions relacionades tant amb els elèctrodes com les membranes. La investigació duta a terme en esta tesi doctoral s'ha centrat particularment en els problemes associats amb les membranes. Nafion és el material de membrana més comú per a piles de combustible a causa de la seua alta conductivitat protònica i excepcional estabilitat química i mecànica. No obstant això, patix una considerablement alta permeabilitat al metanol i una limitada temperatura d'operació (< 80 ºC). El primer aspecte es va abordar amb l'ús de nanofibres de PVA i el segon reemplaçant Nafion amb polímers basats en SPEEK. Membranes compostes de Nafion amb nanofibres de PVA, funcionalizades en la seua superfície amb grups àcids sulfónics, van exhibir menors permeabilitats al metanol a causa de la propietat barrera intrínseca del PVA, encara que la conductivitat protònica també es va veure afectada com resultat del comportament global no conductor de la fase de PVA. Remarcablement, les nanofibres van proporcionar un reforç mecànic fort que va permetre la preparació de membranes de baixa grossària (< 20 micròmetres) amb unes pèrdues òhmiques reduïdes, així contrarestant les seues menors conductivitats protòniques. Es van examinar membranes basades en SPEEK per a l'operació de piles de combustible de metanol directe dins del rang intermedi de temperatures entre 80-140 ºC, en el que les lentes reaccions electroquímiques en els elèctrodes s'acceleren i la conductivitat protònica s'activa. El SPEEK es va combinar i va entrecreuar amb els polímers de PVA i PVB per a evitar la seua dissolució en condicions d'aigua calenta. Les composicions de SPEEK-PVA van mostrar conductivitats protòniques funcionals i les mescles de SPEEK-PVB van presentar permeabilitats al metanol molt baixes. Es van preparar i caracteritzar membranes nanocompostes constituïdes per nanofibres de SPEEK-30%PVB embegudes en una matriu de SPEEK-35%PVA. Una membrana nanocomposta entrecreuada a 120 ºC va revelar resultats prometedors per a piles de combustible de metanol directe operand a temperatures intermèdies. Es pot concloure que l'electrofilatura és una tècnica apropiada per a l'obtenció de malles de nanofibres polimériques destinades a membranes compostes avançades amb característiques i rendiments en piles de combustible millorats. / Mollá Romano, S. (2015). Application of Nanofibres in Polymer Composite Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/58611 / TESIS / Premios Extraordinarios de tesis doctorales / Compendio

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening condition that can appear in patients with diabetes. High ketones in the blood lead to acidity of the blood. For DKA diagnosis and management, ketones such as hydroxybutyrate (HB) can be used to quantify the severity of the disease. The fabrication of electrochemical biosensors for the detection of HB is attractive since their capability to deliver fast response, high sensitivity, good selectivity and potential for miniaturisation. In this thesis, an integrated electrode system was prepared for the detection of HB. Laser-induced graphene (LIG) with a 3D porous structure was used as the flexible platform. Poly (toluidine blue O) (PTB) was electro-deposited on LIG (PTB/LIG) under the optimised conduction (pH of 9.7 and from 0.4 to an upper cyclic potential of 0.8 V). The single PTB/LIG working electrode demonstrated excellent performance towards the detection of NADH with a linear range of 6.7 M to 3 mM using chronoamperometry, high sensitivity of detecting NADH and excellent anti-fouling ability (94 % response current retained after 1500 s). Further integration of the 3-electrode system realised the static amperometric detection of NADH over the range of 78 M to 10 mM. Based on the excellent performance of PTB/LIG to NADH sensing, hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase was immobilised via encapsulation with chitosan and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) which was used for HB biosensing over the linear range of 0.5 M to 1 mM with NAD+ dissolved in solution. In addition, the co-immobilisation of NAD+ and HBD on PTB/LIG was conducted by optimisation of enzyme and NAD+ amount per electrode, which shows excellent reproducibility and satisfactory HB biosensing performance. Further experiments to improve the long-term stability of the enzyme electrode is expected in the future. The proposed integrated electrode system also possesses the potential to extend to a multichannel sensor array for the detection of multiple biomarkers (e.g. pH and glucose) for diagnosis and management of DKA.