Progress in Polymer Processing and Engineering

A topical collection in Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This collection belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

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Editor

Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: polymer processing; mechanical behaviour of polymer-based systems; rheological behaviour of polymer-based systems; green composites; biocomposites; nanocomposites; biodegradable polymers; polymer blends; degradation and recycling of polymer-based systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

This collection from the open-access journal Polymers aims to collect reviews on the topic of Polymer Processing and Engineering. All kinds of activity performed on polymeric materials ( not only the shaping but also the synthesis, transformation, compounding, functionalization, and stabilization of materials) are included within the scope.

The topics of this collection will include, but are not limited to these hot topics:

  • New process development;
  • Additive manufacturing and 3D printing;
  • Fiber spinning and electrospinning;
  • Green Polymers;
  • Process control;
  • Polymer rheology and mechanical properties;
  • Modified polymer materials;
  • Polymer design;
  • New materials, additives, and fillers;
  • Surface treatments;
  • Coating and thin films;
  • Injection, compression, transfer, and rotational molding;
  • Blow molding and thermoforming;
  • Simulation and optimization of processes;
  • Products testing and analysis.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Paolo La Mantia
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • new process development
  • additive manufacturing and 3D printing
  • fiber spinning and electrospinning
  • green polymers
  • process control
  • polymer rheology and mechanical properties
  • modified polymer materials
  • polymer design
  • new materials, additives, and fillers
  • surface treatments
  • coating and thin films
  • injection, compression, transfer, and rotational molding
  • blow molding and thermoforming
  • simulation and optimization of process
  • products testing and analysis

Published Papers (5 papers)

2023

Jump to: 2022

23 pages, 7427 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Radiant Disinfection: Exploring UVC and UVB Sterilization Impact on the Mechanical Characteristics of PLA Materials
by Mohamed A. Aboamer, Ahmed S. Alsuayri, Ahmad Alassaf, Tariq M. Alqahtani, Bakheet A. Alresheedi, Ghazwan N. Saijari, Elamir A. Osman and Nader A. Rahman Mohamed
Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4658; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244658 - 10 Dec 2023
Viewed by 725
Abstract
This study explores the impact of disinfection techniques on the mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a crucial material in the production of medical implants, tissue engineering, orthopedic devices and drug delivery systems, owing to its biocompatibility and ease of manufacturing. The focus [...] Read more.
This study explores the impact of disinfection techniques on the mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a crucial material in the production of medical implants, tissue engineering, orthopedic devices and drug delivery systems, owing to its biocompatibility and ease of manufacturing. The focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) type C (254 nm wavelength) and the combined use of type C and B (310 nm wavelength) disinfection methods. Fifteen tensile test specimens (ASTM D638) and fifteen compression test specimens (ASTM D695) were utilized to assess PLA’s mechanical properties, including yield strength, ultimate strength, and fracture strength. The investigation involved subjecting the specimens to the specified disinfection methods and evaluating these properties both before and after the disinfection process. In the tensile test, a statistically significant difference (p = 0) in yield displacement was observed among the three groups. Additionally, a notable difference (p = 0.047) in fracture displacement was identified between the untreated group and the UVC and UVB combination group. No discernible impact on yield or fracture forces was noted. In the compression test, there was a significant difference (p = 0.04) in yield displacement and a clear difference (p = 0.05) in fracture force between the untreated group and the UVC and UVB combination group. The hybrid combination of UVC and UVB disinfection techniques did not affect yield force in both tensile and compression tests. However, it demonstrated a clear impact on displacement, suggesting its potential as a promising disinfection technique in the medical field. Full article
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28 pages, 6192 KiB  
Article
Radiant Reinforcement: Enhancing Composite Polymer Magnet Materials Mechanical Properties with UVC Medical Disinfection
by Mohamed A. Aboamer, Meshari Algethami, Abdulrahman Hakami, Ahmad Alassaf, Tariq M. Alqahtani, Bakheet Awad Alresheedi and Nader A. Rahman Mohamed
Polymers 2023, 15(23), 4551; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234551 - 27 Nov 2023
Viewed by 638
Abstract
Magnetic polymer composites have recently attracted considerable interest, primarily because of their promising applications, especially in the biomedical industry. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation as a disinfection method on the mechanical characteristics of [...] Read more.
Magnetic polymer composites have recently attracted considerable interest, primarily because of their promising applications, especially in the biomedical industry. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation as a disinfection method on the mechanical characteristics of composite polymer magnets. Tensile and compression tests were conducted following the standards set by ASTM D3039 and ASTM D3410, respectively. In addition, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to determine the effect of the disinfection method on the amount of carbon, oxygen, and iron within the surface of the composite polymer magnet material. The UVC’s irradiation impact was statistically assessed by a t-test. The results of the tensile tests demonstrated a significant increase in the transition force, measuring 0.41 kN and 0.58 kN before and after UVC exposure, respectively. Similarly, the outcomes of the compression tests showed a notable increase in yield force, registering 4.9 kN and 6 kN before and after UVC treatment. This suggests that the composite magnetic material has gained a higher capacity to withstand compressive loads than tensile loads. Finally, the EDS analysis revealed the carbon mass percentage was 71.69% prior to UVC radiation exposure, with it increasing to 78.56%, following exposure. This suggests that the composite material exhibited improved hardness. These findings highlight that UVC irradiation has a beneficial impact on both the mechanical and chemical properties of the composite magnet material, which support its use as a disinfection method in clinical settings. Full article
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16 pages, 5757 KiB  
Article
Recycling of Heterogeneous Mixed Waste Polymers through Reactive Mixing
by Vincenzo Titone, Emmanuel Fortunato Gulino and Francesco Paolo La Mantia
Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061367 - 09 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1411
Abstract
Anything that is not recycled and/or recovered from waste represents a loss of raw materials. Recycling plastics can help to reduce this loss and to reduce greenhouse gases, improving the goal of the decarbonization of plastic. While the recycling of single polymers is [...] Read more.
Anything that is not recycled and/or recovered from waste represents a loss of raw materials. Recycling plastics can help to reduce this loss and to reduce greenhouse gases, improving the goal of the decarbonization of plastic. While the recycling of single polymers is well assessed, the recycling of mixed plastics is very difficult because of the strong incompatibility among the different polymers usually present in urban waste. In this work, heterogeneous mixed polymers, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylenetherephthalate (PET) were processed using a laboratory mixer under different conditions of temperature, rotational speed and time to evaluate the effect of the above parameters on morphology, viscosity and mechanical properties of the final blends. Morphological analysis shows a strong incompatibility between the polyethylene matrix and the other dispersed polymers. The blends show, of course, a brittle behavior, but this behavior slightly improves with decreasing temperature and increasing rotational speed. A brittle-ductile transition was observed only at a high level of mechanical stress obtained by increasing rotational speed and decreasing temperature and processing time. This behavior has been attributed to both a decrease in the dimensions of the particles of the dispersed phase and to the formation of a small amount of copolymers that act as adhesion promoters between matrix and dispersed phases. Full article
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13 pages, 3132 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Monitoring of Pellet Plastication in a Full-Flight Screw and Kneading Disk Elements of a Co-Rotating Self-Wiping Twin-Screw Extruder by Acoustic Emission (AE) Sensing
by Tsukasa Kida, Masatoshi Ohara, Keigo Inamori, Shogo Nagasawa, Shin-ichi Kihara and Kentaro Taki
Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051140 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1371
Abstract
The plastication of pellets in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder is a significant concern for product homogeneity and stability in the plastic industry. We developed a sensing technology for pellet plastication in a plastication and melting zone in a self-wiping co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The [...] Read more.
The plastication of pellets in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder is a significant concern for product homogeneity and stability in the plastic industry. We developed a sensing technology for pellet plastication in a plastication and melting zone in a self-wiping co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The collapse of the solid part of the pellets emits an elastic wave as an acoustic emission (AE) that is measured on the kneading section of the twin-screw extruder using homo polypropylene pellets. The recorded power of the AE signal was used as an indicator of the molten volume fraction (MVF) in the range of zero (fully solid) to unity (fully melted). MVF decreased with increasing feed rate monotonically in the range of 2–9 kg/h at a screw rotation speed of 150 rotations per minute (rpm) because of the reduction in the residence time of pellets in the extruder. However, the increase in feed rate from 9 to 23 kg/h at 150 rpm resulted in an increase in the MVF as the friction and compaction of pellets caused their melting. The AE sensor could elucidate the pellet’s plastication phenomena caused by friction, compaction of pellets, and melt removal in the twin-screw extruder. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2023

17 pages, 4982 KiB  
Article
Batch Fabrication of a Polydimethylsiloxane Based Stretchable Capacitive Strain Gauge Sensor for Orthopedics
by Karthika Sheeja Prakash, Hermann Otto Mayr, Prachi Agrawal, Priyank Agarwal, Michael Seidenstuecker, Nikolaus Rosenstiel, Peter Woias and Laura Maria Comella
Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2326; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122326 - 08 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
Polymer-based capacitive strain gauges are a novel and promising concept for measuring large displacements and strains in various applications. These novel sensors allow for high strain, well above the maximum values achieved with state-of-the-art strain gauges (Typ. 1%). In recent years, a lot [...] Read more.
Polymer-based capacitive strain gauges are a novel and promising concept for measuring large displacements and strains in various applications. These novel sensors allow for high strain, well above the maximum values achieved with state-of-the-art strain gauges (Typ. 1%). In recent years, a lot of interest in this technology has existed in orthopedics, where the sensors have been used to measure knee laxity caused by a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and for other ligament injuries. The validation of this technology in the field has a very low level of maturity, as no fast, reproducible, and reliable manufacturing process which allows mass production of sensors with low cost exists. For this reason, in this paper, a new approach for the fabrication of polymer-based capacitive strain gauges is proposed, using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as base material. It allows (1) the fast manufacturing of sensor batches with reproducible geometry, (2) includes a fabrication step for embedding rigid electrical contacts on the sensors, and (3) is designed to produce sensor batches in which the size, the number, and the position of the sensors can be adapted to the patient’s anatomy. In the paper, the process repeatability and the robustness of the design are successfully proven. After 1000 large-strain elongation cycles, in the form of accelerated testing caused much higher strains than in the above-mentioned clinical scenario, the sensor’s electrical contacts remained in place and the functionalities were unaltered. Moreover, the prototype of a patient customizable patch, embedding multiple sensors, was produced. Full article
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