Mechanical factors have been cited as a primary cause of total knee replacement failure. A hypothesis has been formulated stating that the introduction of a compliant interface into a total knee prosthesis would moderate excessive stresses and strains, thereby, extending joint life. A biocompatable elastomer developed by the Dow Corning Corporation was selected for mechanical evaluation as a cushioning material. Force-strain, impact, and fatigue tests were conducted on several specially designed and fabricated elastomer test shapes. Test results demonstrate that a suitably stiff and dynamically responsive elastomer cushion can be designed to handle repeated physiological knee joint loads. Physiological impacts with cadaver tibias demonstrated significant shock reduction benefits, including peak force reductions of up to 70%, with the addition of different elastomer shapes. Compressive fatigue evaluation of elastomer samples was inconclusive owing to extensive sample wear. As a result configurations or applications where the elastomer can move relative to a rigid surface are not recommended. A new, mechanically contained elastomer shape was designed and tested which greatly reduced wear. Bonding of this new shape to prosthetic joint materials is recommended for further experimental evaluation. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Various silicone elastomers have been evaluated for use in the prosthetic reconstruction of facial defects. Their strength, texture, flexibility, hardness, ease of preparation, pigment receptivity and retention, and their resistance to cleaning were compared and the data consulted when an elastomer was chosen to restore defects, improve aesthetics and reestablish the confidence of a selection of patients. Detailed case reports are provided, together with information on the adhesives or mechanical methods available for retaining the facial prosetheses. Cyanoacrylate adhesives for use on skin surfaces and as tissue adhesives have been studied in detail. A novel n-butyl 413 cyanoacrylate has been developed with a viscosity, haemostatic property and stability to make it particularly suitable for use in skin grafting and tissue repair. It has already been used with good results on patients with severe burns. An improved formulation, containing a fluorescent dye, can be precisely applied through a specially constructed foot-controlled dispenser illuminated by a fibre-optic supplying UV-light. Cyanoacrylates are already being used as tissue adhesives in place of the conventional but potentially disfiguring suture. The availability of improved, imperceptible adhesives and a precision applicator, which can be used in a modern operating theatre, will extend their effectiveness and satisfy some of the needs of Plastic, and Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons. Portable applicators have potential use in battlefield and in veterinary surgery and overcome the imprecision characteristic of earlier methods.

CAD integrierte Spritzgußsimulation, Vereinfachung für den Anwender durch direkte CAD-Daten Verwendung, vollständige Analysewerkzeuge für den Spritzguß sowie Sonderverfahren

Neste trabalho, foram desenvolvidas estratégias para modular a composição de elastômeros biodegradáveis da família dos polihidroxialcanoatos (PHA), produzidos por Pseudomonas, a partir de ácidos graxos ou óleos vegetais, para diversificar suas aplicações, sobretudo pela inserção de monômeros insaturados. A composição do PHA produzido variou com o tipo de ácido graxo fornecido e com sua proporção em misturas. Em genomas seqüenciados, detectaram-se dois genes fadH (codificador de 2,4-dienoilCoA hidratase) em P. aeruginosa e apenas um em outras Pseudomonas. Observou-se uma correlação entre o número de cópias de fadH no genoma e maior eficiência na oxidação de ácidos graxos insaturados. Mutantes afetados no metabolismo de ácidos graxos insaturados foram obtidos utilizando-se transposon, alguns destes mutantes apresentaram maior eficiência na incorporação de monômeros insaturados ao PHA. A clonagem e seqüenciamento de fragmentos de DNA interrompidos pelo transposon permitiram a identificação dos genes afetados nesses mutantes. / Different strategies were applied to modulate the composition of biodegradable elastomeric polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) accumulated by Pseudomonas from fatty acids and plant oils, in order to improve the applications of this material, mainly by unsaturated monomer insertion. PHA composition varied both with fatty acid type and fatty acids ratio in mixtures supplied. Analysis of genome sequences revealed two fadH (encoding 2,4-dienoyl-CoA hydratase) copies in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and only one in other Pseudomonas species. The number of fadH copies in the genome was related to the higher oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Transposon-induced mutants affected on unsaturated fatty acids metabolism were obtained, some of them showing higher efficiency to incorporate unsaturated monomers do the PHA. Cloning and sequencing of transposon-disrupted DNA regions allowed to identify the genes affected in those mutants.

[pt] Dentro do campo dos controladores passivos, um dos dispositivos usados pelas suas propriedades de amortecimento são os Apoios Elásticos, que constituem uma solução econômica e efetiva na supressão ou atenuação das vibrações em sistemas dinâmicos com problemas de ressonância ou instabilidade, freqüentemente pela falta de amortecimento suficiente. Este trabalho envolve o estudo de um rotor horizontal com apoios elásticos (silicone), adaptado a partir de um rotor existente, o estudo de diversos efeitos sobre a sua operação, a medição de seu movimento, a identificação dos parâmetros do problema, a medição e validação a partir de resultados simulados em um modelo numérico. Os fenômenos incluídos no estudo são o efeito giroscópio (rotor descentrado com respeito do vão), desbalanceamento do rotor e empenamento do eixo. Neste trabalho os parâmetros do sistema foram determinados usando técnicas de identificação, análise modal e otimização não linear devido à anisotropia do sistema. / [en] Viscoelastic Passive Controllers are an important field of technological research due to the development of new materials and design techniques. Damping properties allow an easy retrofit of existing machines with excessive vibration problems, developing Elastomeric Bearing Supports. They are an economic and effective solution in the suppression or attenuation of vibrations in dynamic systems suffering from instability or resonance problems, which often lack of sufficient damping. This work involves the study of an horizontal rotor with elastomeric bearing supports, adapted of another one, the study of several effects on his operation, the measurement of his motion, the identification of the problems parameters, the measurement and validation from the simulated results in a numeric model. Phenomena included in the study are the gyroscopic effect (rotor out of the middle), rotor unbalance and shaft bow. In this work the systems parameters were determined using identification, modal analysis and nonlinear optimization techniques due to the anisotropy of the system.

Grâce à leurs propriétés mécaniques et électroniques élevées, les NanoTubes de Carbone (NTC) semblent être les nanocharges idéales pour conférer des propriétés optimum à des matériaux composites, en particulier ceux qui sont élaborés à partir de matrices élastomères. Cependant, pour obtenir une amélioration significative des propriétés une bonne dispersion dans la matrice est nécessaire. La dispersion des NTC dans une matrice élastomère de type EPM est explorée ici en employant un copolymère statistique, le poly(éthylène-stat-acétate de vinyle) (EVA), comme agent dispersant. Les outils classiques de mélange des élastomères, mélangeur interne et mélangeur à cylindres, qui sont des techniques de mélange douces, ont été utilisés dans le cadre de cette étude. Nous avons montré qu’à faible taux de NTC dans la matrice leur dispersion était contrôlée par deux paramètres clés (i) la viscosité de la matrice EPM et (ii) la concentration en EVA. L’augmentation des concentrations de NTC a permis de mettre en évidence que les propriétés rhéologiques et électriques des nanocomposites variaient brusquement à partir de concentrations critiques (seuil de percolation) assez faibles permettant de justifier l’utilisation du système EPM-EVA sélectionné. Nous avons alors préparé un mélange maître EPM-EVA chargé à 20% en NTC possédant de très bonnes propriétés de conductivité. Des mélanges à base d’EPDM chargés par des nanotubes de carbone, du noir de carbone ou le mélange des deux ont également été analysés. Nous avons démontré que la dilution d’un mélange maître permet d’obtenir un élastomère chargé en NTC avec une viscosité Mooney constante et avec un impact fort sur la cinétique de vulcanisation de l’élastomère (accélération de la réaction). Un effet de synergie entre noir de carbone et NTC a été mis en évidence au niveau des propriétés mécaniques mais pas pour les propriétés électriques. / The outstanding properties of Carbon NanoTubes (CNTs) make them ideal candidates for use in nanocomposites, and particularly in those based on rubber matrix. However, to obtain an improvement of the properties, a good degree of dispersion of the CNT in the matrix is crucial. The CNT dispersion in an EPM rubber is investigated here by using a statistical copolymer, the ethylene-stat-vinyl acetate (EVA), as dispersing agent. In this study, we work with the classic methods used for rubber mixing, like an internal mixer and an open two roll mill, which are soft mixing techniques. At low CNT rate in the matrix, the dispersion is controlled by two parameters such as the EPM matrix viscosity and the EVA concentration. The rheological and electrical properties varied abruptly when the CNT concentration is increased in the matrix. The low values obtained for this percolation threshold justify the use of EPM-EVA system. We have prepared an EPM-EVA master batch loaded with 20% of CNT and possessing very good conductive properties. We studied EPDM compound filled with carbon nanotubes, carbon black or the blend of both. We have demonstrated that the dilution of the master batch allows us to obtain a rubber filled with a constant Mooney viscosity but with an important impact on the vulcanization kinetics of elastomers. The synergistic effect between carbon black and carbon nanotubes has been shown on the mechanicals properties but not on the electrical ones.

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The advancement of each component of aerospace vehicles is necessary as the continual demand for more aggressive missions are created. Improvements in propulsion and guidance system electronics are invaluable; however without material development to protect the vehicle from its environment those advances will not have a practical application. Thermal protection systems (TPS) are required in both external applications; for example on reentry vehicles, as well as in internal applications; to protect the casing of rockets and missiles. This dissertation focuses on a specific type of internal solid rocket motor TPS, ablatives. Ablatives have been used for decades on aerospace vehicles. To protect the motor from the hostile environment, these materials pyrolyze and char. Both of these mechanisms produce a boundary between the combustion gases and the motor as well as release the heat that the decomposed material has absorbed. These sacrificial materials are intended to protect the casing that it is attached to. With the development of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) in the last couple of decades, it is of interest to see how these two fields can merge. Three different nanomaterials (carbon nanofibers, multiwall carbon nanotubes, and nanoclays) are examined to observe how each behaves in environments that simulate the motor firing conditions. These nanomaterials are individually added to a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) at different loadings, creating three distinct families of polymer nanocomposites. To describe a materials ablative performance, a number of material properties must be individually studied; such as thermal, density, porosity, char strength, and rheology. Different experiments are conducted to isolate specific ablative processes in order to identify how each nanomaterial affects the ablative performance. This dissertation first describes each material and the ablative processes which are characterized by each experiment. Then basic material properties of each family of materials are described. Degradation and flammability experiments then describe the degassing processes. Studies of the material char are then performed after full blown rocket experiments are done. These tests have shown that of the three nanomaterials, nanoclay enhances the TPU ablative performance the most while the CNF provides the least enhancement. / text

The research contained within this thesis formed part of an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded project based at Loughborough University, which aimed to investigate the use of additive manufacturing (AM), and in particular sintering technologies, for the production of running footwear sole units. Laser sintering (LS) is an AM process which produces parts directly from a computer aided design (CAD) file by selectively fusing successive layers of powdered material using a CO2 laser. LS imparts significant advantages over traditional manufacturing techniques including extensive design freedom, the ability to manipulate the local properties of a single material part as well as economical manufacture of bespoke items due to the elimination of tooling. Modifying the mechanical properties and/or geometry of sole units has been shown to provide benefits in the areas of performance, injury risk reduction and comfort, especially when considering elite athletes on a subject specific basis. Given the attributes of LS outlined above, the technology offers significant potential to produce sole units offering high added-value compared to conventional counterparts which are limited by the constraints of traditional processing techniques such as injection moulding. However, the mechanical capacity of LS polymers in context of such application was unknown. Accordingly, this research investigated the suitability of a laser sintered elastomer (LSE) material, in view of key selected mechanical properties, for the manufacture of running shoe midsoles. The midsole is the primary functional component in the sole unit of a running shoe used for distance running on hard surfaces. Following a preliminary assessment of the selected LSE (TPE 210-S), a new dynamic test method was designed to assess the compressive, fatigue and time dependent recovery properties of midsole material specimens under loading conditions representative of in-service use. The method was successfully implemented on an electro-mechanical test apparatus (previously unreported upon in literature) and used firstly, to benchmark the aforementioned properties of a range of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyurethane (PU) midsole foams representative of the range currently used in production, and secondly, to establish the same property set for TPE 210-S specimens produced across a range of laser powers (LP's). Initial cycle operating ranges in terms of key compressive properties were established for EVA and PU materials. All conventional variants showed considerable deterioration from these initial values over the 125,000 cycle test regime, but subsequently demonstrated partial recovery when left unloaded post-test. PU grades generally exhibited better fatigue performance and findings were consistent with those of previous studies. Whilst variation in LP facilitated linear variation in displacement and stiffness properties for TPE 210-S, all specimens yielded a stiffer and more elastic response than that of conventional foams at the outset; initial compressive operating ranges, whilst within close proximity, did not overlap. However, fatigue performance was found to be superior with only relatively small property changes occurring over the test regime regardless of LP. Furthermore, no signs of catastrophic specimen failure (e.g. cracking) were visually apparent. In this respect the material showed good suitability for midsole applications, but further work is required to address increasing the available compressive property range which fell outside the scope of this work.

Polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-co-octene copolymer (EOC) blends were prepared at various component ratios and reinforced with silica nanoparticles (SiO2). Strategies to improve filler dispersion involved the grafting of a silane coupling agent on the PP matrix, the addition of a maleated PP (PP-g-MA) as a compatibilizer and the use of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. These approaches resulted in a fine dispersion of the nanoparticles within the PP phase and induced a reduction of the size of the EOC domains, due to a barrier effect. Tensile and flexural properties were significantly increased, whereas ductility and impact properties were not affected. These enhancements are attributed to the favourable microstructure of the blends, featuring a segregated microstructure, and to the improved interfacial adhesion between the functionalized polymer matrix and the surface of the nanoparticles. The microstructure and rheology of model melt compounded EOC-based nanocomposites were investigated. Functionalization of the polyolefin matrix was accomplished through silane grafting, or addition of a maleated EOC (EOC-g-MA) compatibilizer. Various grades of unmodified SiO2 having different specific surface areas (SSA), as well as a surface-modified grade were added to the EOC matrix at various loadings. The formation of covalent and hydrogen bonds between the silanol groups and the functionalized polymer generated strong polymer/filler (P/F) interactions, resulting in improved filler dispersion. Bound polymer characterization revealed that in the compatibilized materials, the amount of polymer physically attached to the nanoparticles was higher than in the non-compatibilized samples. In the absence of a compatibilizer, larger SiO2 aggregates formed upon increasing SSA because of increased probability of hydrogen bonding between the particles. The increased propensity for aggregation was revealed by time sweeps as well as by the increased strain sensitivity in stress sweeps. On the contrary, the compatibilized composites exhibited a stable response and a higher critical strain for the onset of non-linearity, indicative of stronger adhesion between the fillers and the matrix. Superposition of oscillatory and creep/recovery experiments revealed that the viscoelastic properties in the terminal region were influenced substantially by the state of dispersion of the nanoparticles. In the absence of a compatibilizer, substantial enhancements in the linear viscoelastic (LVE) functions were noted and an increasing SSA resulted in more significant deviations from terminal flow. On the contrary, the SSA of the particles had no effect on the viscoelastic and mechanical properties of the compatibilized composites. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-04-18 15:17:52.471