Additive manufacturing through material extrusion, often termed three-dimensional (3D) printing, is a burgeoning method for manufacturing thermoplastic components. However, a key obstacle facing 3D-printed plastic parts in engineering applications is the weak weld between successive filament traces, which often leads to delamination and mechanical failure. This is the chief obstacle to the use ...

We describe the preparation and electro-optic characteristics of a color display which makes use of the selective reflection of cholesteric droplets embedded in a polymer film. The polymer film is formed by a UV-curable adhesive, as opposed to the thermoplastic polymers which have been used previously. The new systems are easy to prepare and suitable for operation at room temperature. They show...

The emission properties of a graded-index thermoplastic polymer optical fiber and a step-index thermosetting one, both doped with rhodamine 6G, have been studied. The work includes a detailed analysis of the amplified spontaneous emission together with a study of the optical gains and losses of the fibers. The photostability of the emission of both types of fibers has also been investigated. Co...

In this paper, in situ experiments have been designed using the full-field deformation technique of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to characterize non-uniform shrinkage in thermoplastic polymers commonly used in traditional and emerging molding processes. These experiments are capable of characterizing the differences in strains that develop due to thermal gradients and stiction as the polymer...

The goal of this study was to evaluate the thermoplasticity of conventional and thermoplastic gutta-percha and Resilon, a polyester polymer-based material. Specimens with standardised dimensions were made from the following materials: conventional and thermoplastic gutta-percha (Dentsply), conventional and thermoplastic gutta-percha (Endopoints) and Resilon. After 24 h, the specimens were place...

Thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (PAE) [also PEBA: polyether block amide] is one of the most recently developed of the thermoplastic elastomers: a multiblock polymer with polyamide hard segments, it uses longchain polyether diol or polyester diol of low Tg for its soft segments. Polyamide 6 or polyamide 12 (PA12) is the main polyamide component used, while the soft segments are mostly provided...

in this research work, the effects of natural fibers such as date palm fiber (df) and jute fiber (jf) on bending properties of polypropylene (pp)/ ethylene–propylene–diene–monomer (epdm) thermoplastic elastomers are investigated. for this purpose, the date palm and jute fibers at five levels of fiber weight fractions (0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 wt. %) are utilized during composite fabrication. maleic ...

Polymer, heal thyself! Supramolecular ABA triblock copolymers formed by dimerization of 2-ureido-4-pyrimidinone (UPy) end-functionalized polystyrene-b-poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PS-b-PBA) AB diblock copolymers have been synthesized, resulting in a self-healing material that combines the advantageous mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers and the dynamic self-healing features of supramol...

In this paper we present our positive experience with use of Aquaplast thermoplastic as a tie-down dressing for securing and maintaining skin grafts in good position against their nutrient recipient beds. This unique polymer is safe to use, simple to apply, and maintains uniform pressure across the entire surface of the skin graft, no matter how contoured the shape of the anatomical region.