Under de senaste åren, på grund av överanvändningen av icke förnybara resurser har den ekologiska miljön på jorden påverkats allvarligt. I takt med detta ökade oron bland människor om att resurserna skulle ta slut. Därför är det nödvändigt att utveckla och använda mer miljövänliga förnybara resurser. Ett av dessa alternativ är cellulosabaserat material, vilket är ett utmärkt val. Vanligtvis består cellulosabaserat material av ett förstärkande material (cellulosafiber) och en matris (polymer eller metall). Dock bör kompatibiliteten mellan cellulosamaterialet och polymermatrisen ses över, eftersom generellt är kompatibiliteten mellan de låg. I detta projekt studerades olika metoder för att förbättra kompatibiliteten mellan cellulosamaterialet och polymermatrisen. Två cellulosamaterial (mikrokristallin cellulosa (MCC) och cellulosaoxalat (COX)) behandlades med olika modifieringsmetoder för att förbättra kompatibiliteten och gränssnittsinteraktionen mellan materialen. För att modifiera MCC och COX användes bland annat kulmalning, vatten som dispergeringsmedel, förestring av cellulosafibrerna med oljesyra under olika reaktionstider (6, 18, respektive 48 timmar), samt att tillsätta ett kompatibiliseringsmedel, maleinsyraanhydrid-ympad polypropylen (MAPP), i olika halter (1% respektive 2%). För att framställa kompositproverna användes extrudering och formsprutning. Dragprovning genomfördes för att testa de mekaniska egenskaperna hos proverna. Ytterligare karakteriseringsanalyser som utfördes på de olika cellulosapulvren var kontaktvinkeln (CA), svepelektronmikroskopi (SEM), infrarödspektroskopi (FTIR), och röntgendiffraktion (XRD). Resultatet från dragprovningen visade att COX-proverna med 1% MAPP som kompatibilisator gav den högsta draghållfastheten och Youngs modul av alla kompositproverna som producerades i detta exjobb. Användningen av MAPP som kompatibiliseringsmedel visade ett bättre resultat än de andra undersökta metoderna för att förbättra kompatibiliteten mellan den hydrofila ytan på MCC/COX och den hydrofoba ytan på polymermatrisen. Att använda MAPP som kompatibilisator bör prioriteras vid tillverkningen av kompositmaterial. / In recent years, with the excessive use of non-renewable resources on the earth, the ecological environment has been seriously affected. At the same time, humans began to worry about running out of resources. Therefore, it is necessary to develop environmentally friendly renewable resources. Cellulose-based material is an excellent choice. Commonly, cellulose-based material consists of reinforcement (cellulose fiber) and matrix (polymer or metal). However, the compatibility between cellulosic material and polymer matrix should be considered. In general, the compatibility between them is poor. In this project, several methods to improve the compatibility between the cellulose material and polymer matrix were studied. Two cellulosic materials (microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cellulose oxalate (COX)) were treated with different modification methods to improve the compatibility and interfacial interaction between the cellulosic material and polymer matrix. Ball milling, using water as a dispersing agent, using oleic acid to esterify cellulose fiber for different reaction times (6 h, 18 h, and 48 h), and using different concentrations (1% and 2%) of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) as compatibilizers were applied to improve the compatibility between cellulose fiber and polymer matrix.  To produce the composite specimens, extrusion and injection molding were utilized. Tensile testing was done to test the mechanical properties of the specimens. Contact angle (CA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) were also performed on the various cellulose powders as characterization methods. According to the result of tensile testing, COX samples with 1% MAPP as compatibilizer, showed the highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus of all the composite samples produced in this master thesis. Using MAPP as a compatibilizer shows a better result than using other methods to improve the compatibility between hydrophilic MCC/COX surface and hydrophobic PP matrix. The use of MAPP as a compatibilizer should be prioritized when producing composite materials.

På grund av den rådande klimatförändringen och de globala problem som plast orsakar i miljön blir det allt viktigare att dagens linjära materialanvändning ändras till en cirkulär användning. Inom fordonsindustrin har kravet på ökad tillgänglighet och kvalitet på återvunna material identifierats. Som följd startades forskningsprojektet Sustainable Vehicle Interior Solutions (SVIS) samordnat av RISE IVF där behovet av en mer hållbar produktion av fordonsinteriörer tas upp. Ett mål är att minska och återvinna produktionsavfall. Den här studien undersöker möjligheten att återvinna textil och plast från en interiör komponent av multimaterial, som i detta fall är en textilklädd plaststolpe. Stolpen är gjord av polykarbonat (PC)/poly(akrylnitril-butadien-styren) (ABS) plast och polyestertextil (PET). Mekanisk återvinning utfördes på den textilklädda stolpen. Möjligheten att separera textil från plast undersöktes och testades i en kvarn med en dammavskiljare. Prover innehållande olika mängder PET förberedes och återvanns för att studera påverkan av PET på materialegenskaperna. Två olika kompatibiliseringsmedel användes för att undersöka om blandningarnas kompatibilitet ökade. Hur väl textil separerats från plast analyserades genom jämförelse av bulkdensitet mellan proverna. För att undersöka effekten av kompatibiliseringsmedel och hur förekomsten av PET påverkar PC/ABS utfördes mekanisk testning, DSC och SEM. Resultaten visade att separationen av textil från plast inte var fullständig på grund av mycket hög vidhäftning mellan textilen och plasten. Bibehållna mekaniska egenskaper, förutom brottförlängning, erhölls för alla återvunna prover oavsett PET-mängd. Därför var det möjligt att dra slutsatsen om att förekomsten av PET inte påverkar materialets egenskaper negativt och att separation eller tillsats av kompatibiliseringsmedel inte är nödvändigt. Vidare visar resultaten att PET blir blandbar med PC men inte påverkar ABS-fasen. Kemisk återvinning genom glykolys utfördes på svart och beige polyestertextil av PET erhållet som avklipp från produktionen av stolparna. Glykolysen utfördes i laboratorieskala med etylenglykol (EG) som lösningsmedel. Reaktionen ägde rum vid 230℃ under 1 timme med överskott av lösningsmedel och en Mg-Al blandad oxidkatalysator. Slutprodukten separerades från rester genom flera filtreringssteg och analyserades med DSC. Från resultatet observerades det att den erhållna slutprodukten var den önskade bis(2-hydroxyetyl) tereftalat (BHET) monomeren. Färgämnen från textilen fanns fortfarande kvar i monomeren efter depolymerisation. Därför utfördes avfärgning. För den svarta textilen testades adsorption med aktivt kol och extraktion med etylenglykol som avfärgningsmetoder. För den beige textilen utfördes enbart adsorption med aktivt kol. De avfärgade produkterna analyserades genom färgmätning och/eller genom jämförelse med varandra. Resultatet visade att adsorption med aktivt kol är en effektiv avfärgningsmetod för den beige textilen, men inte för den svarta textilen. Framgångsrik avfärgning av den svarta textilen erhölls istället genom extraktion med etylenglykol. Sammanfattningsvis, mekanisk återvinning av den textilklädda stolpen resulterar i bibehållna värden för de mekaniska egenskaperna hos det återvunna materialet, förutom för brottförlängnigen. Detta bör göra det återvunna materialet lämpligt för användning i fordonsapplikationer, men inte för återvinning i ett slutet kretslopp (closed loop recycling) på grund av säkerhetsaspekter hos stolpen. Om hög kraft appliceras måste materialet kunna ändra form utan att gå sönder. Återvinning genom glykolys visar potential för att den avklippta polyestertextilen kan återvinnas i ett slutet kretslopp eftersom den avfärgade monomeren skulle kunna ompolymeriseras till ny PET. Det kan undersökas i framtida studier. / Due to the current climate change and the global problems plastics cause in the environment, it becomes increasingly important that today’s linear use of materials is changed to a circular use. In the automotive industry, the demand for increased availability and quality of recycled materials has been recognized. Following this, the research project Sustainable Vehicle Interior Solutions (SVIS) coordinated by RISE IVF was started in which the need for a more sustainable production of vehicle interiors is addressed. An objective is to reduce and recycle production waste. This study investigates the possibility to recycle textile and plastic from an interior multi-material component which in this case is a textile dressed plastic pillar. The pillar is made of polycarbonate (PC)/poly(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) (ABS) plastic and polyester (PET) textile.  Mechanical recycling was performed on the textile dressed pillar. The possibility to separate textile from plastic was investigated and tested in a mill with a dust separator. Samples containing different amounts of PET were prepared and recycled to study the influence of PET. Two different compatibilizers were used to investigate potential improvement in compatibility of the blends. The level of separation of textile from plastic was analyzed by comparison of bulk density between the samples. To investigate the effect of compatibilizers and how the presence of PET influences the PC/ABS, mechanical testing, DSC and SEM were performed. The results showed that the separation of textile from plastic was not complete due to very high adhesion between the textile and plastic. Retained mechanical properties, except for the strain at break, were obtained for all recycled samples. Therefore, it could be concluded that the presence of PET does not affect the properties of the material negatively and separation or addition of compatibilizer is unnecessary. The results further show that PET becomes miscible with PC but does not affect the ABS phase. Chemical recycling through depolymerization with glycolysis was performed on black and beige polyester (PET) textile waste obtained as cut-off from the production of the pillars. The glycolysis was performed in lab-scale with ethylene glycol (EG) as solvent. The reaction took place at 230℃ for 1h with excess of solvent and a Mg-Al mixed oxide catalyst. The final product was separated from residues through several filtration steps and analyzed with DSC. From the result it could be observed that the obtained final product was the desired bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomer. Dyes from the textile were still present in the monomer after depolymerization. Therefore, decolorization was performed. For the black textile, adsorption with active carbon and extraction with ethylene glycol were tested as decolorization methods. For the beige textile, solely adsorption with active carbon was performed. The decolorized products were analyzed by color measurement and/or through comparison to each other. The result showed that adsorption with active carbon is an effective decolorization method for the beige textile, but not for the black textile. Successful decolorization of the black textile was instead obtained by extraction with ethylene glycol.  To conclude, mechanical recycling of the textile dressed pillar results in retained values of the mechanical properties of the recycled material, except for the strain at break. This should make the recycled material suitable for use in automotive application, though not closed loop recycling because of safety aspects of the pillar. If high force is applied, the material needs to be able to change shape without breaking. Recycling through depolymerization shows potential for closed loop recycling of the polyester textile cut-off since the decolorized monomer could be repolymerized into new PET. This could be investigated in future studies.

Chemical recycling stands as a method for managing plastic waste, by transforming it into monetary value through a circular recycling process. Addressing the demand for a solution on sustainable polymers made from renewable sources, this project aimed to design a polymer that facilitates the process of chemical recycling. Three linear oxalate polymers and two elastomers were synthesized through step-growth polymerization techniques. The thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated via thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, size exclusion chromatography, and tensile testing. The thermal properties of the oxalate polymers could be determined. Dimethyl polyoxalate had the highest molecular weight, but due to insufficient molecular weight the mechanical properties could not be evaluated for any of the linear polymers. Introducing a crosslinker,pentaerythritol, to the dimethyl polyoxalate increased the molecular weight, creating an etworked and flexible elastomer with mechanical properties that could be evaluated. Two elastomers were synthesized with different amounts of crosslinker. A successful chemical recycling process was conducted on the linear dimethyl polyoxalate and the elastomer with a higher amount of crosslinker. This was achieved through ring closing depolymerization to obtain sublimated monomer crystals and later resynthesized through ring opening polymerization. The elastomers also demonstrated mechanical recyclability through reprocessing. / Kemisk återvinning står som en metod för att hantera plastavfall, genom att omvandla det till monetärt värde genom en cirkulär återvinningsprocess. För att möta behovet på en lösning av hållbara polymerer gjorda från förnybara källor, syftade detta projekt till att designa en polymer som underlättar processen för kemisk återvinning. Tre linjära oxalatpolymerer och två elastomerer syntetiserades genom stegvisa polymerisationstekniker. De termiska och mekaniska egenskaperna utvärderades via termogravimetrisk analys, differentiell svepkalorimetri, storlek-uteslutning kromatografi och dragprovning. De termiska egenskaperna hos oxalatpolymererna kunde bestämmas. Dimetylpolyoxalat hade den högsta molekylvikten, men på grund av otillräcklig molekylvikt kunde de mekaniska egenskaperna inte utvärderas för någon av de linjära polymererna. Införandet av en tvärbindare, pentaerythritol, till dimetylpolyoxalatet ökade molekylvikten, vilket skapade en nätverksbunden och flexibel elastomer med mekaniska egenskaper som kunde utvärderas. Två elastomerer syntetiserades med olika mängder tvärbindningsmedel. En framgångsrik kemisk återvinningsprocess genomfördes på den linjära dimetylpolyoxalatet och elastomeren med en högre mängd tvärbindare. Detta uppnåddes genom ringslutande depolymerisation för att erhålla sublimerade monomerkristaller som senare återsyntetiserades genom ringöppningspolymerisation. Elastomerna visade också mekanisk återvinningsbarhet genom upparbetning.

Biobaserade polymerer är en av möjligheterna för att uppnå mer hållbara plaster och produkter. Polyamider (PA) har mångsidiga tillämpningar alltifrån fibrer i kläder till tillämpningar som bildelar. De mest producerade polyamiderna (PA6 och PA66) står för en årlig fossilbränsleförbrukning på nästan 10 miljoner ton. Skadliga effekter berör inte bara produktionsfasen utan även konsumtionsfasen samt hanteringen av uttjänta produkter. Därför är det ett stort behov av att utveckla biobaserade polyamider som är kemiskt återvinningsbara, för att minska miljöpåverkan från dessa material. I detta arbete syntetiserades furanbaserade polyamider (FPA) genom en polykondensationsreaktion mellan hexametylendiamin (HMDA) och en biobaserad disyra, 2,5-furandikarboxylsyra (FDCA). Dessutom framställdes sampolymerer genom att använda olika förhållanden av C6- och C10-diaminer (HMDA och 1,10-dekandiamin). Strukturen och den kemiska sammansättningen av de syntetiserade polymererna och sampolymererna bekräftades med hjälp av Fourier-transform infraröd spektroskopi och kärnresonansspektroskopi. Den högsta molekylvikten som uppnåddes var 9900 g/mol, främst på grund av begränsningar i reaktoruppställningen (avsaknad av ett vakuumsystem och avsaknad av adekvat blandning). Utöver detta identifierades nedbrytningen av FDCA och förångningen av HMDA som potentiella faktorer som hämmade för högre molekylvikt. Baserat på de termiska analyserna visade sig FPA:erna vara amorfa, med en genomsnittlig glastemperatur på 102°C. Vidare visade de syntetiserade polyamiderna hög termisk stabilitet, med en initial nedbrytningstemperatur (motsvarande 5 % viktförlust) på 340°C. / Biobased polymers is one of the pathways to achieve more sustainable plastics and products. Polyamides (PA) are commodity polymers, having versatile applications from fibers in clothes to car parts. The most produced polyamides (PA6 and PA66) account for yearly fossil-fuel consumption of almost 10 million tonnes. The detrimental effects do not only concern the production phase, but also the consumption and end-of-life aspects. Hence, there is a crucial need to develop bio-based polyamides that are chemically recyclable to reduce the environmental impact of these materials.  In this work, furan-based polyamides (FPAs) were synthesized through a polycondensation reaction between hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) and a biobased diacid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). In addition, copolymers were made by using different ratios of C6 and C10 diamines (HMDA and 1,10-decanediamine). The structure and chemical composition of the synthesized polymers and copolymers were confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The highest molecular weight attained was 9900 g/mol, mainly due to limitations from the reactor setup (absence of a vacuum system and lack of adequate mixing). Adding to this, the degradation of FDCA and the evaporation of HMDA were identified as potential factors inhibiting the increase in molecular weight. Based on the thermal analyses, the FPAs were found to be amorphous, with an average glass transition temperature of 102°C. Further, the synthesized polyamides showed high thermal stability, having an initial degradation temperature (corresponding to 5% weight loss) of 340°C.

A cerebral aneurysm is a weakened area of an artery in the brain, creating an abnormal expansion. Recent research for treatment is utilizing a photopolymerizable hydrogel as a possible operation for injection in situ. This paper aimed to achieve bioconjugation of peptides on a PEGDMA polymer network (using the photoinitiator PEG-BAPO) to form a biocompatible photopolymerizable hydrogel, without compromise to any of its mechanical attributes. Achieving cell adhesion to the hydrogel surface is a critical requirement as that could drive the growth of endothelium between aneurysm and artery, to considerably enhance its sustainability and decrease the risk of inflammation. The hydrogel was synthesized by functionalizing RGD with a PEG-spacer and co-polymerize it with PEGDMA using UV-radiation to create an intertwined cross-linking network. Samples of various peptide concentrations were studied in cell culture to analyze cell adhesion, followed by mechanical tests to identify possible deviations. A subsequent study was established to create a dynamic prototype as a quantifiable replication of a hydrogel inside an aneurysm in vivo. The model was designed in SolidWorks and connected with an Ibidi sticky-Slide to roughly replicate a cerebral aneurysm connected to an artery with space to introduce a hydrogel sample.

The thermal-oxidative degradation of a crosslinked hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)/cycloaliphatic diisocyanate (H12MDI) based polymer, which is commonly used as a polymeric binder in propellants, is investigated at temperatures from 95°C to 125°C with the aim of estimating the lifetime of the material in storage conditions (20°C) using the Arrhenius approach. Furthermore, the effect of antioxidants and to a lesser extent plasticizer on the degradation process was also studied. Diffusion-limited oxidation (DLO) was theoretically modelled and DLO conditions were estimated by gathering oxygen permeability and consumption data from similar studies. It was concluded that DLO-effects might be present at the highest experiment temperature (125°C) depending on the actual properties of the material investigated. The mechanical degradation was monitored by conducting tensile tests in a DMA apparatus and photographs using a microscope was taken to examine potential DLO effects. The degradation process of the stabilized polymer (with antioxidant) did not showcase Arrhenius behaviour, which was confirmed by the failure to construct a satisfactory mastercurve. This was most likely due to loss of antioxidants, resulting in autocatalytic oxidation(acceleration of the oxidation process). However, the induction period of the stabilized polymer showcased Arrhenius behaviour in the temperature region 95-125°C with an ~E_a = 90 kJ/mol. If the activation energy E_a is assumed to remain constant, the lifetime at ambient temperature (20°C) is predicted to be approximately 176 Years for a 2mm thick sample. However, this is probably an overestimation since curvature in the Arrhenius plot has been observed for many rubber materials in the lower temperature region. Assuming the E_a drops from ~90 kJ/mol to~71 kJ/mol, a more conservative lifetime prediction of 58 Years was estimated.

Thermoset polymers are widely used polymers in the world, but Increase in global plastic pollution and lack of fossil fuel stimulates intense research towards environmentally sustainable materials. Bio-based unsaturated polyesters (UPs) would be an excellent solution to replace oil-based synthetic polyesters. Most of the unsaturated polyesters have been synthesised by ring opening polymerisation (ROP) of cyclic esters or lactides.  In this study, different resins were developed using different initiators such as isosorbide (IS),1,4 butanediol (BD), and cis-2 butene 1,4 diol (C2BD) with monomers like lactide (L) and alpha angelica lactone (AAL) through the ring opening polymerisation process. The produced resins were further characterised by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR),Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA).  Synthesis of resin with lactone monomer was not successful while with lactide monomer it was successful. IS-based resin showed better thermal properties compared to other obtained resins. Tg value of IS containing resin was 63°C, thermal stability up to 235°C and Storage modulus about 3841 MPa. These values are comparable with other bio-based resins produced using the same monomer.

Since the beginning of the 20th century plastic has been a widely used material, which has resulted in large quantities of plastic being produced in the last century. The plastics of today are mainly produced from fossil raw materials, which gives it a high climate impact. Plastic also has a long service life, which creates problems with handling after the new period when new plastic is produced at a faster rate than plastic debris can be recycled or incinerated. One possible approach is to switch from plastic from fossil sources to bioplastics, which is produced by renewable sources. This means a reduction in the environmental impact as the amount of fossil CO2 emissions from combustion of plastics would decrease. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are created by short volatile fatty acids (VFAs) added to bio sludge from a wastewater treatment plant at a pulp and paper mill where there is a lot of bacteria and microorganisms. Some of the bacteria in the sludge have the ability to accumulate PHA when VFA is added in excess and then be able to use it as an energy and carbon source in cases of starvation. This means that PHA produced in this way can be degraded by bacteria making it biodegradable while having similar properties as oil-based plastics. Production of PHA is currently expensive as it is often necessary to purchase VFA for production. To make it economically sustainable to replace oil-based plastics with PHA, the cost of PHA production must therefore be reduced. This can be done by using mixed bacterial cultures from, for example, industrial wastewater treatment plants and by creating their own composition of VFA through fermentation. At the paper mill at BillerudKorsnäs Gruvön there are several process streams that today are led to the water treatment plant, one of which is from PM6 (Paper Machine 6). By fermenting that stream, VFA can be formed with a composition of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. The current may thus be suitable to use as a substrate in PHA production. Another way to produce VFA is to ferment the residual flow from hydrothermal carbonation (HTC) of bio sludge. According to (Samorì et al., 2019), acetic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid are formed, which means that even this stream may be suitable as a substrate for PHA production. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the effects of the composition of VFA on the production of PHA from forest industrial bio sludge. The study covers two different cases, Case PM6 and Case HTC, where two different types of composition of VFA are added to paper sludge from the paper mill. The experiments were performed in cylindrical tanks on three occasions where the first two experiments had a volume of 30 liters and the last experiment a volume of 10 liters. On the first occasion, the maximum accumulation rate in the growth phase was studied. In the second instance, a high accumulation rate was sought, but also survival after the growth phase. The first two trials were batch trials where the sludge was dosed until saturation was achieved. On the third occasion, the possibility of carrying out PHA production with a continuous sludge exchange was studied. The experiments were analyzed by FTIR which provided information on the absorbance of the sludge which shows how the PHA concentration increased during the course of the experiments. Extractions were then performed to obtain the concentration of PHA that eventually accumulated in the sludge. The results show that biomass from BillerudKorsnäs Gruvön's mills accumulated PHA faster with VFA composition from fermented PM6 effluent compared to VFA composition from fermented HTC condensate. Calculations made with input from the experiments indicate that it is possible to produce a larger amount of PHA per year with Case PM6. The conclusion is therefore that Case PM6 is preferable if as large a PHA production as possible wants to be achieved. Case HTC is instead preferred if reduced PHA production can be tolerated in favor of biocarbon production.

Additive manufacturing has increased in popularity in recent years partly due to the possibilities of producing complex geometries in a rapid manner. Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a type of additive manufacturing technique that utilizes polymer powder and a layer-by-layer technique to build up the desired geometry. The main drawbacks with this technique are related to the reproducibility, mechanical performance and the poor surface finish of printed parts. Surface roughness increase the risk of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, which is unbeneficial for parts to be used in the healthcare industry. This thesis investigated the possibility in reducing the surface roughness of SLS printed polyamide 12 with the fully automated post-processing technology PostPro3D. The postprocessing relies on chemical post-processing for smoothening of the parts’ surface. PostPro3D utilizes vaporized solvent which condenses on the printed parts causing the surface to reflow. By this roughness, in terms of unmolten particles, is dissolved and surface pores are sealed. The influence of alternating post-processing parameters; pressure, temperature, time and solvent volume was evaluated with a Design of Experiments (DoE). The roughness reduction was quantified with monitoring the arithmetic mean average roughness (Ra), the ten-point height roughness (Rz) and the average waviness (Wa) using a stylus profilometer and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The effect of post-processing on mechanical properties was evaluated with tensile testing and the effect on microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A comparison was made between post-processed samples and a non-postprocessed reference, as well as between samples post-processed with different degree of aggressivity, with regards to the roughness values, mechanical properties and the microstructure. Results indicated that solvent volume and time had the largest effect in reducing the roughness parameters Ra and Rz, while time had the largest influence in increasing the elongation at break, tensile strength at break and toughness. The post-processing’s effect on waviness and Young’s modulus was less evident. SEM established that complete dissolution of powder particles was not achieved for the tested parameter ranges, but a clear improvement of the surface was observed for all different post-processing conditions, as compared to a non-post-processed specimen. The reduction in roughness by increased solvent volume and time was thought to be due to increased condensation of solvent droplets on the SLS-parts. The increase in mechanical properties was likely related to elimination of crack initiation points at the surface. In general, the mechanical properties experienced a wide spread in the results, this was concluded to be related to differences in intrinsic properties of the printed parts, and highlighted the problems with reproducibility related to the SLS. An optimal roughness of Ra less than 1 µm was not obtained for the tested post-processing conditions, and further parameter optimization is required. / Möjligheten att tillverka komplexa geometrier på ett snabbt sätt, har fått additiv tillverkning att öka i popularitet. Selective laser sintering (SLS) är en typ av additiv tillverkning där polymer pulver sintras samman succesivt lager för lager. Dessa lager bygger tillsammans upp den önskade geometrin. De största nackdelarna med SLS är att de tillverkade delarna har bristande mekaniska egenskaper, har brister i reproducerbarheten samt att ytan har en dålig kvalitet, den är ojämn. Ytojämnheten ökar risken för att bakterier fastnar och ett en biofilm bildas. Då produkten ska användas inom sjukvården, är det viktigt att biofilm bildning undviks. Den här uppsatsen har undersökt möjligheterna att reducera ytojämnheten av SLS-printad polyamid 12 med hjälp av kemisk efterbehandling i PostPro3D. Denna maskin är helt automatisk och åstadkommer ytbehandling genom att förånga lösningsmedel som sedan kondenserar på det SLS-printade materialet. Ytan på materialet löses upp vilket minskar ytojämnheter i form av pulver partiklar samt sluter porer på ytan. Genom att ändra på parametrarna för efterbehandlingen kan graden av aggressivitet påverkas, detta gäller tryck, temperatur, tid och lösningsmedels volym. De optimala parametrarna för att åstadkomma en jämn yta utvärderades med en Design of Experiments (DoE). Reducering av ytojämnhet mättes med hjälp av aritmetisk genomsnittlig ojämnhet (Ra), tio-punkts höjd ojämnhet (Rz) och medel-vågighet (Wa), med nålprofilometer och konfokal mikroskop. Efterbehandlingens påverkan på de mekaniska egenskaperna utvärderades i ett dragprov, medan mikrostrukturen undersöktes med svepelektronmikroskop (SEM). Ytjämnheten, de mekaniska egenskaperna och mikrostrukturen jämfördes mellan icke behandlade prover och ytbehandlade prover, med varierad grad av aggressivitet. Resultaten indikerade att tid och volym hade störst effekt på Ra och Rz, medan tid hade störst positiv inverkan på töjning, styrka och seghet. Effekten på styvheten (E-modulen) och vågigheten (Wa) var mindre uppenbar, och någon tydlig påverkan kunde inte observeras. SEM-analys visade att fullständig upplösning av partiklar på ytan inte sker för de testade behandlingarna, men en tydlig förbättring kunde ses vid jämförelse av ett obehandlat prov och ett behandlat prov. Den ökade ytjämnheten för längre tid och högre volym tros bero på en ökad kondensering av lösningsmedel på ytan under efterbehandlingen. Ökningen i mekaniska egenskaperna är troligtvis relaterade till eliminering av kritiska defekter på ytan. Generellt visade de mekaniska egenskaper en stor spridning i resultaten, detta tros bero på inneboende egenskaper i provstavarna. Denna slutsats understryker den bristande reproducerbarheten för SLS-printning. En optimal ytjämnhet antas vara ett Ra värde under 1 µm, denna ytjämnhet har inte uppnåtts med de testade efterbehandlingsparameter värdena, därför krävs ytterligare parameter optimering för att nå optimal efterbehandling.

Element Materials Technology in Linköping is an independent material testing company that performs testing of materials to several big sectors, such as the Swedish Armed Forces and the aerospace industry. There is of great importance to characterize aging of materials to ensure material performance. Element Materials Technology recently invested in a handheld FTIR equipment and it was of interest to see if this equipment might be an additional analysis technique to characterize aging of rubber materials. A nitrile butadiene rubber and two natural rubbers were thermally aged in 50°C and 70°C for six weeks. The hardness of the rubbers increased when the rubbers were thermally aged. The compression set decreased for the aged samples as well as the tensile strength and the elongation at break. An investigation of possible methods for collecting migrated additives on the rubber surface was performed, using two different solvents and a stationary FTIR equipment. More research needs to be performed to exclude the possibility that the solvents affect the material. Universal Attenuated Total Reflectance – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, UATR-FTIR onto the rubber surface showed in some cases changes in the spectrums between unaged and aged samples. However, it could not be concluded weather the changes occurred due to migrating additives or due to changes in the backbone polymer. Four interfaces to the handheld FTIR equipment were investigated and an ATR interface gave best results. An analysis method was developed for the handheld FTIR equipment and the spectrums from the handheld FTIR were similar to spectrums from UATR-FTIR (stationary). It could be concluded from Micro Chamber analysis that volatile organic matters were emitted at elevated temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis could detect the relative composition of the rubbers. Further it could be concluded that the mechanical properties were affected by the thermal treatment. This study could however not establish a correlation between FTIR signals and the results seen from the other analysis. The fact that differences could be detected in the FTIR spectrums before and after aging could indicate that the FTIR analysis technique can possibly be used as an analysis method. However, a more thoroughly investigation needs to be performed before using this technique. / Element Materials Technology i Linköping utför materialutredningar åt en mängd olika typer av företag, där en stor sektor är den svenska Försvarsmakten och flygindustrin. Materialutredningar är essentiella för att säkerställa att rätt material används för rätt applikation. Element Materials Technology investerade nyligen i en handhållen FTIR utrustning. Det finns förhoppningar om att den nya utrustningen kan användas som ett komplement för att ålderskarakterisera gummimaterial. Ett nitril-butadien-gummi och två stycken naturgummin var termiskt åldrade i 50°C och 70°C i sex veckor. Hårdheten på provkroppar ökade efter den termiska åldringen. Sättningen, draghållfastheten och töjningen minskade för proverna åldrade i värme. En metod för att samla upp migrerade additiv från gummiytan utvecklades och undersöktes, genom att använda två olika lösningsmedel och en stationär FTIR utrustning. Ytterligare utredningar behöver däremot genomföras för att utesluta ifall de två lösningsmedel påverkar gummimaterialet och inte bara samlar upp additiv från gummiytan. UATR-FTIR visade på skillnader i spektrum mellan icke-åldrade och åldrade gummimaterial. Däremot kunde det inte avgöras om skillnaderna i spektrumen berodde på migration av additiv till gummiytan eller på förändring i huvudpolymeren. Fyra stycken olika tillbehör till den handhållna FTIR utrustningen prövades, där ATR-tillbehöret gav bra spektrum. En analyseringsmetod utvecklades för den handhållna FTIR-utrustningen och spektrum från dessa analyser gav liknande spektrum som spektrum från UATR-FTIR (stationär). Analys med Micro Chamber visade att flyktiga organiska ämnen lämnade gummimaterialet vid förhöjd temperatur. Termogravimetrisk analys, TGA visade förhållandet mellan gummimaterialets komponenter både före och efter åldring. Studien visade också att de mekaniska egenskaperna påverkades av den termiska åldringen. Analysmetoden FTIR kunde detekterad skillnad i spektrum före och efter åldring av gummimaterialen. Studien kunde däremot inte etablera ett samband mellan dessa FTIR-signaler och de övriga analysresultaten. Det kan däremot inte uteslutas att ett sådant samband finns. Ytterligare studier behöver utföras för att undersöka detta.