Spherical Shape Thermoforming of Textile Thermoplastic Composite Tube.

On-line Adaptive Control for Thermoforming of Large Thermoplastic Sheets

Large sheet thermoforming is widely used for the manufacture of parts such as twin sheet formed gas tanks, body panels and windshields. These complex technical parts require a precise temperature map to be realized prior to forming. In particular, the material used for forming gas tanks incorporates an EVOH barrier layer that is susceptible to tearing when exact processing conditions are not st...

Friction in Textile Thermoplastic Composites Forming

A previously developed mesoscopic friction model for glass/PP textile composite laminates during forming is evaluated for glass and carbon/PPS laminates, at higher temperatures and lower viscosities than before. Experiments were performed for tool/ply and ply/ply configurations in a new friction test set-up. The experimental results indicate that this contact is indeed in the hydrodynamic regim...

Thermoforming of tracheal cartilage: viability, shape change, and mechanical behavior.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Trauma, emergent tracheostomy, and prolonged intubation are common causes of severe deformation and narrowing of the trachea. Laser technology may be used to reshape tracheal cartilage using minimally invasive methods. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the dependence of tracheal cartilage shape change on temperature and laser dosimetry using heated sa...

Novel Thermoplastic Polyimide Composite Materials

A Nipple Splint Using a Textile-Like Thermoplastic Cast

The demand for nipple reconstruction has been increasing with the proliferation of breast reconstruction. After reconstructing a nipple, it is crucial to apply a splint because one of the limitations of nipple reconstruction is loss of nipple projection over time [1]. Long-term projection of the reconstructed nipple is influenced by two factors: 1) contraction of the flap, which begins once the...