Improved Mechanical Properties of Compatibilized Polypropylene/Polyamide-12 Blends

Compatibilized blends of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide-12 (PA12) as a second component were obtained by direct injection molding having first added 20% maleic anhydride-modified copolymer (PP-g-MA) to the PP, which produced partially grafted PP (gPP). A nucleating effect of the PA12 took place on the cooling crystallization of the gPP, and a second crystallization peak of the gPP appeared in the PA12-rich blends, indicating changes in the crystalline morphology. There was a slight drop in the PA12 crystallinity of the compatible blends, whereas the crystallinity of the gPP increased significantly in the PA12-rich blends. The overall reduction in the dispersed phase particle size together with the clear increase in ductility when gPP was used instead of PP proved that compatibilization occurred. Young's modulus of the blends showed synergistic behavior. This is proposed to be both due to a change in the crystalline morphology of the blends on the one hand and, on the other, in the PA12-rich blends, to the clear increase in the crystallinity of the gPP phase, which may, in turn, have been responsible for the increase in its continuity and its contribution to the modulus.

Análisis del mecanizado de un molde para la fabricación de un logo deportivo.

[ES]Las compañías líderes del mundo textil compiten cada día por ser las número 1 en cuanto a ventas se refiere. Para ello, son necesarias diferentes estrategias de venta. Una de ellas es la adición de diferentes adornos de plástico que hacen que el comprador se fije en sus productos. Por otro lado, las tecnologías de mecanizado están en pleno avance y la fabricación de piezas o moldes es cada vez más eficiente. Por eso en este trabajo se quiere analizar y estudiar la fabricación de un molde de inyección de plástico con el logotipo de una de las marcas más famosas en el mundo, Adidas. Se ha de llevar a cabo un estudio de los posibles materiales a utilizar para el molde, así como, las distintas alternativas de mecanizado que hoy en día se emplean para este tipo de procesos. Además, los avances en los distintos programas CAD/CAM son de especial ayuda para este tipo de trabajos. Estos programas son capaces de trazar las trayectorias más eficientes a la hora de mecanizar distintos tipos de piezas y postprocesar la programación de dichas trayectorias para luego ser introducidas en los centros CNC.

Design of a Sensor Based on Plastic Optical Fibre (POF) to Measure Fluid Flow and Turbidity

Although many optical fibre applications are based on their capacity to transmit optical signals with low losses, it can also be desirable for the optical fibre to be strongly affected by a certain physical parameter in the environment. In this way, it can be used as a sensor for this parameter. There are many strong arguments for the use of POFs as sensors. In addition to being easy to handle and low cost, they demonstrate advantages common to all multimode optical fibres. These specifically include flexibility, small size, good electromagnetic compatibility behaviour, and in general, the possibility of measuring any phenomenon without physically interacting with it. In this paper, a sensor based on POF is designed and analysed with the aim of measuring the volume and turbidity of a low viscosity fluid, in this case water, as it passes through a pipe. A comparative study with a commercial sensor is provided to validate the proven flow measurement. Likewise, turbidity is measured using different colour dyes. Finally, this paper will present the most significant results and conclusions from all the tests which are carried out.

Plastic Analysis and Testing of multidirectional SFRC flag slabs

This paper presents a theoretical and experimental study of multidirectional steel fibers reinforced concrete slabs (SFRC). The study is based on a real building application using SFRC flag slabs. For the evaluation of the slabs bearing capacity, plastic calculations are performed both at section and structure levels. The section analysis uses the perfect plastic stress-strain diagram, with reference to the values of the strength characteristics of SFRC based on previous jobs that used similar fibers and dosages. In the structure analysis the plastic yield lines method has been used. This method relates the section last bearing moment and the plastic collapse load. The experimental campaign has consisted of the testing of six 2 m. diameter circular shaped slabs prototypes, and has allowed to verify the reference resistance used in the calculations.