Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-139). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

<p> Commercially available Ga⁺ focused ion beam (FIB) instruments with nanometer size probe allows for in situ materials removal (sputtering) and addition (deposition) on a wide range of material. These spatially precise processes have enabled a wide range of nanofacbrication operations (e.g. specimen preparation for analysis by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and secondary ion mass spectrometer). While there exists an established knowledge of FIB methods for sample preparation of hard materials, but FIB methodology remain underdeveloped for soft materials such as biological and polymeric materials. </p><p> As FIB is increasingly utilized for specimen preparation of polymeric materials, it is becoming necessary to formulate an information base that will allow established FIB techniques to be generalized to this spectrum of materials. A thorough understanding of the fundamental ion-solid interactions that govern the milling process can be instrumental. Therefore, in an effort to make the existing procedures more universally applicable, the interrelationships between target material, variable processing parameters, and process efficiency of the milling phenomena are examined. The roles of beam current, distance (i.e. step size) between successive FIB beam dwell and the time it spent at each dwell point (i.e. pixel dwell time) are considered as applied to FIB nanomachining of four different thermoplastic polymers: 1. low density polyethylene (LDPE), 2. high density polyethylene (HDPE), 3. Polystyrene (PS), and 4. nylon 6 (PA6). Careful characterization of such relationships is used to explain observed phenomena and predict expected milling behaviors, thus allowing the FIB to be used more efficiently with reproducible results. Applications involving different types of polymer composite fiber are presented.</p>

This investigation examines the structure-property relationships of high modulus fibres. Five fibre classes were chosen for examination. These are p-aromatic copolyamide (Armos and SVM) and poly-p-aramids (Terlon and Kevlar) obtained from rigid chain polymers; poly-m-aramids (Phenylon and Nomex) obtained from semi rigid chain polymers, and aliphatic polyamide (Capron and Nylon) and Polyethylene obtained from flexible chain polymers. The thermo-mechanical properties studied include tensile properties, thermal shrinkage, creep-recovery, stress-relaxation and residual deformation over a range of temperatures. Results show that mechanical properties are highly related to chain rigidity, orientation and crystallinity of the fibres. The presence of aromatic rings in polymer chains increase the polymer rigidity. The higher the intermolecular attractive force and chain rigidity, the greater the resistance to heat. Study of the creep-recovery properties of polyamide fibres shows that irrecoverable residual deformation for the rigid chain polymers is accumulated within a very short initial period of time (15 seconds) when the load is applied. However for semi-rigid or flexible chain polymer fibres, the residual deformation is accumulated during the whole creep process. The characteristics of tensile stress-strain properties and the accumulation of residual deformation are found to be temperature dependent, especially in the case of Armos and SVM. The mechanical properties of polyamide fibres are also influenced by moisture which is associated with intermolecular interaction. Supplementary studies using FTIR, SEM and DSC were also undertaken. FTIR was used for preliminary investigation into the intermolecular hydrogen bonding and associated moisture in fibres. The results support the explanation of the thermomechanical properties of polyamide fibres. SEM results show the fibre rupture mechanism related to the fibre structures.

This thesis aims to challenge the conventional assumption about the irreversibility of the decline of the textile industry in developed countries. It is argued that the decline can be reversed if mature textile firms can break away from their traditional routines and practices and radically and continuously change their technologies, markets and organisational structure to adapt to the rapidly changing business environment. Using the European textile industry as a case study, this thesis shows that a number of European countries, including Germany and The Netherlands, have managed to bypass the maturity-trap -a phenomenon commonly found in large mature firms because of an inability to adapt to changing external conditions- through industrial reconfiguration from the 1960s onwards. The majority of the industry, however, has been in relative decline over the past decade as the market has become much more competitive and consequently made their old strategies obsolete. Under such circumstances there is an urgent need to turn the industry around. Learning from the failure of the Courtaulds (UK) and the success of Ten Cate (NL) and Freudenberg (DE), the thesis illustrates how the maturity-trap can take hold and how the process of de-maturity can be initiated at the firm level. The case study of Marzotto highlights how the danger of the maturity-trap is now no longer just a British phenomenon. This once highly successful firm is now in great danger of falling into the maturity-trap. The issue at stake is the long-term survival of the European textile industry and how rapidly its long-term competitiveness can be restored.

Under ett samarbete med underklädesbutiken Bornevings har information om textila materialtagits fram. Butiken erbjuder alltid god service när det gäller utprovning av plagg men saknarbaskunskaper om textila material och hur de tillverkas. Textil informationen har tagits framför att underlätta detta problem. Kunskapsbristen kommer nu att eliminerats så personalen kanerbjuda den bästa servicen.För att få reda på hur informationen på bästa sätt skulle redovisas för butiken studeradespedagogik. Inlärning fungerar olika för alla, vissa tar till sig bilder medan andra lättare kanregistrera text. Lärande äger rum mellan minst två personer. Det ena kan vara i form av enskrift, till exempel en bok. För att kunna ställa sig kritisk till ämnen krävs först kunskap. Allkunskap är positiv för individen och ligger till grund för ens förutsättningar i livet.För att personalen hela tiden ska kunna gå tillbaka till den information som tagits fram tillbutiken har informationen valts att redovisas i ett tryckt format. Resultatet blev en handbok.Den innehåller information om materialen som varorna i Bornevings butik består av. Materialsom tas upp är bomull, polyester, polyamid, elastan, modal, viskos, lyocell, ull och silke.I handboken beskrivs det grundläggande om hur ett material blir till, alltifrån fiberstadiettill tillverkningsprocesser såsom väv och trikå, samt hur de olika metoderna kan påverkaslutresultatet.Handboken gavs ut till en urvalsgrupp av olika ålder, kön och yrke. Det för att kontrolleratextens nivå så att den var enkel att ta in och att fackord eliminerats. Allt för att skapa en såenkel och informativ text som möjligt.During collaboration with the underwear store Borneving has information on textile materialsbeen developed. The store always offers excellent service when it comes to try out the best fitof garments but lacks basic knowledge of textile materials and how they are made. A textilehandbook has been produced to prevent this problem. The lack of knowledge will now beeliminated so the staff can provide the best service.To find out how the information in the best way would be presented for the store werepedagogy studied. Learning works differently for everyone. Some will remember pictureswhile others can more easily register text. Learning takes place between at least two people.One person may be in the form of a book. In order to be critical to subjects it requiresknowledge. All knowledge is positive for the individual and forms the basis of one&apos;sopportunities in life.In order so the staff all the time can go back to the information generated to the shop theinformation has been selected to be presented in a printed format. The result of this was ahandbook. It includes information about materials to which the goods in Bornevings shopconsists of. Materials covered are cotton, polyester, polyamide, elastane, modal, viscose,lyocell, wool and silk. The handbook describes the basic of how a material is created, fromfiber through to manufacturing processes such as woven and knitted, and how the differentmethods can affect the final result.The handbook was distributed to a select group of different age, gender and occupation. Thiswas to control the text&apos;s level so it was easy to take in and that technical terms are eliminated.All to create a simple and informative handbook as possible. / Program: Textil produktutveckling med entreprenörs- och affärsinriktning