In modern industry, mass production has migrated to third world countries. To be competitive, European companies are forced to rapidly switch towards manufacturing of short series of customised products with added value. In European industry, a great effort has been made in order to customise products and give them an added value by developing new fabrication technologies. Additive layered manufacturing (ALM), also known as rapid manufacturing (RM), is a powerful tool that offers the necessary competitiveness to European companies. ALM comprises the use of layer-by-layer manufacturing in order to build a part by addition of material. Fabrication is performed directly from the 3D CAD model, which is sliced into layers that are printed one upon the other. Also known as free form fabrication, additive fabrication ‘unlocks’ design potential since part design obeys functionality, pushing the limits of manufacturability. In this paper, the authors review ALM technologies and the state-of-the-art of ALM applicat...

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00567039/document

Additive Layer Manufacturing: State of the art in industrial applications through case studies

Tackling the plastic problem: A review on perceptions, behaviors, and interventions.

Recycling of bioplastics, their blends and biocomposites: A review

In this review, insight into the use of bio-based fibers as composite reinforcement has been addressed. Specifics on the varieties of natural fibers, and the resultant properties from their constituents and hierarchal structures are described. The methods used to enhance the interface of these fibers with a variety of polymer matrices are reviewed. In addition, the influence of textile operations on creating various fiber architectures with resulting reinforcing capabilities, along with the methods in which natural fiber reinforced composites can be processed, are addressed. Finally, discussion of the correlation between structure, processing, and final composite properties are provided.

Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites

Plastic is a general term used for a wide range of high molecular weight organic polymers obtained mostly from the various hydrocarbon and petroleum derivatives. There is an ever-increasing trend towards the production and consumption of plastics due to their extensive industrial and domestic applications. However, a wide spectrum of these polymers is non-biodegradable with few exceptions. The extensive use of plastics, lack of waste management, and casual community behavior towards their proper disposal pose a significant threat to the environment. This has raised growing concerns among various stakeholders to devise policies and innovative strategies for plastic waste management, use of biodegradable polymers especially in packaging, and educating people for their proper disposal. Current polymer degradation strategies rely on chemical, thermal, photo, and biological procedures. In the presence of proper waste management strategies coupled with industrially controlled biodegradation facilities, the use of biodegradable plastics for some applications such as packaging or health industry is a promising and attractive option for economic, environmental, and health benefits. This review highlights the classification of plastics with special emphasis on biodegradable plastics and their rational use, the identified mechanisms of plastic biodegradation, the microorganisms involved in biodegradation, and the current insights into the research on biodegradable plastics. The review has also identified the research gaps in plastic biodegradation followed by future research directions.

Biodegradation of plastics: current scenario and future prospects for environmental safety.

Challenges and opportunities of biodegradable plastics: A mini review.

Natural and wood fibre plastic composites (WPC) are among the most rapidly growing markets within the plastics industry They are manufactured by combining either wood or other natural fibers such as flax, hemp, jute or kenaf with polymers Thermoplastic resins, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene, are mixed with other materials (such as wood), and form a composite product The resulting composite can be easily processed into various shapes and can be recycled The experiments were made to study the behaviour of the wood flour-polypropylene composite during injection moulding, and to what extent the mechanical properties deteriorate after several processing cycles, ie mechanical recycling Regarding efficiency of energy recovery, the heating value of wood-thermoplastic composite with different contents of wood and thermoplastics was determined as well

Processing of wood-thermoplastic composites

Purpose – This paper aims to emphasize compared experimental analysis of influence of hybrid and classic moulds on the properties of moulded parts and the processing parameters. Such analysis enables optimization of processing parameters in case of the hybrid mould.Design/methodology/approach – Representative moulded part and appropriate hybrid and classic moulds have been designed and manufactured. The experimental work contains a screening design and the main central composite design for analysing the performance of both moulds and moulded parts properties. In case of hybrid mould a numerical optimization of processing parameters was used.Findings – It was found that hybrid moulds can be successfully applied for production of thin‐wall moulded parts with some limitations. The compressibility of prototype mould inserts was higher compared to classic inserts. The differences in thermal properties of mould inserts materials result in different moulded part properties and mould cavity wall temperature field...

Influence of hybrid mould on moulded parts properties

The descriptions of the development of events in nature from the moment of the Big Bang are using concepts of ‘energy’ and ‘matter’. Systemically, these descriptions lack the third component of every system – information. This brings up the question of where in these descriptions information is and does it possibly precede energy. The analysis used the general systems theory, one of the powerful methods in modern science. For the description of the general technology (natural and artificial technology), from the Big Bang to the final point (a state of complete rest), we used our own concept based on two thoughts: the technology is nothing special but quite general (O. Spengler) and the fractal concept of Nature (M. Deege). It was found that the descriptions lack the answers to the question of the origin of information system whose activity began with the Big Bang. That information input is divided into command and data. With the help of philosophical knowledge, including Plato, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, it was concluded that someone had to make the natural laws that are transmitted in the form of information into energy during the Big Bang before inflation and the creation of matter. The question of who ordered the construction of the laws of nature and started the Big Bang is especially important. This article does not state explicitly who gave the order for the making and who made the transmitted information.

Energy or Information

Introduction In our previous texts we discussed the globalisation of tools.1,2 One of the ideas that originated from these papers is the discussion about the meaning of the term polymers.2 We must take into account the fact that we can differentiate in technology between substances, materials and products made from substances, like thermoset switches, rubber tyres, concrete panels or ceramic insulators. This text has multiple purposes. After the analysis we came to the conclusion that the word polymers covers a wide range of substances and materials, from proteins to polyethylenes or glass-reinforced plastics. For instance, bags made of paper, fabric, and polyethylene, are all organic polymeric bags.3 Journals, magazines and newspapers are full of words beginning with bio: biofuel, bioplastics, biocosmetics and so on. Is all beginning with the syllable “bio” an universal solution for our problems with climate changes, famine in the world, and food as a weapon?4 The most important purpose of this text is to improve the education at all levels in the concept of materials, and not just in plastics, metal, or wood. One of the aims is to stimulate the better systematisation and classifi cation of materials than the one proposed here.

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Maja Rujnić-Sokele

Papers

Challenges and opportunities of biodegradable plastics: A mini review.

Processing of wood-thermoplastic composites

Influence of hybrid mould on moulded parts properties

Energy or Information

Polymers and non-polymers – a new systematisation of substances and materials