Reverse engineering of geometric shape is the process of converting large amounts of measured data points into concise and consistent computer representations of geometry. Applications include the reproduction of engineering parts with no available documentation or CAD definition for such purposes as redesign, analysis and visualisation. Other applications include the creation of various mating...

Incorporation of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) into commodity polymers remains a challenge in the design of high-performance, low-cost polymeric blends. Blends of a thermoplastic polymer and a nematic LCP are produced here by mechanical alloying. Functionality sensitive X-ray microscopy reveals LCP dispersions as small as 100 nm in diameter. Intimate mixing remains upon subsequent melt pro...

We demonstrate that macromolecules in miscible polymer blends may behave as good, Theta, and poor polymeric solvents for each other. We construct a conceptual phase diagram, delineating the range of validity of the random-phase approximation, outside of which polymers contract or expand beyond their unperturbed dimensions, contrary to common assumptions. Remarkably, the correlation length for p...

A b s t r w A series of blends at molecular level dispersion between an organic polymer and metal oxide (mainly silica) are described. These blends are called "organicinorganic polymers hybrids". The dimension of dispersion of "hybrids" is much smaller than that of the so-called "composites". The most suitable organic polymers for the formation of hybrids are those which consist of repeating un...

The large variation in miscibility of blends of polyolefins is related to the architecture of the chain molecules. In this paper we present first results of an approach in which small scale simulations of local interactions are combined with an analytical model for the thermodynamics, the Born-Green-Yvon lattice model, to predict phase diagrams of polyolefin blends from the pure component prope...

This review provides a comprehensive assessment on polymer blends and nanocomposite systems for articular cartilage tissue engineering applications. Classification of various types of blends including natural/natural, synthetic/synthetic systems, their combination and nanocomposite biomaterials are studied. Additionally, an inclusive study on their characteristics, cell responses ability to mim...

The antibacterial activity of Jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.) flower hydro steam distilled essential oil, synthetic blends and six major individual components was assessed against Escherichia coli (MTCC-443) strain. The activity was bactericidal. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by tube dilution technique, and the Minimum inhibitory concentration ranged between 1.9-31.25 mul/ml. Phe...

We have developed a dynamic self-consistent field theory, without any adjustable parameters, for unentangled polymer blends under shear. Our model accounts for the interaction between polymers, and enables one to compute the evolution of the local rheology, microstructure, and the conformations of the polymer chains under shear self-consistently. We use this model to study the interfacial dynam...

Starch is an important constituent in many foods and plays an obvious role in achieving the desired viscosity in products such as sauces, pie illings, salad dressings, puddings, etc. Blending different starches has been reported to result in desirable functional properties which help to overcome some end-use limitations of native starches. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine t...