Flax fibres are oftenly used for reinforcing thermoplastic to manufacture biocomposite materials exhibiting numerous advantages such as high mechanical properties, low density and biodegradability. The mechanical properties of a biocomposite material depends on the nature and orientation of the fibres, the nature of the matrix and mainly on the adhesion between fiber and the polymer matrix. The...

Commercial acceptance of microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOFs) is dependent on their delivery of an acceptable combination of loss and bandwidth. This paper describes recent advances in one attempt at quantifying multimode MPOF performance with a view to developing various graded index MPOFs (GIMPOFs) using structures made up of either air or polymer-filled holes.

The issue of how best to cleave PMMAmicrostructured polymer optical fibres (mPOF) is addressed. The impact of the following parameters on the cleaving process is considered: (i) temperature of the cutting blade, (ii) temperature of the platen holding the fibre, (iii) time allowed for thermal equilibration between fibre and platen, (iv) blade speed, and (v) blade condition. The strong influence ...

Solution doping of microstructured polymer optical fibres [mPOF] is demonstrated, a technique which allows dopants to be introduced after polymerisation through the microstructure. Controlled diffusion is used to disperse the dopant uniformly across the fibre core, and the final concentration can be systematically varied by appropriate choice of conditions. We use this technique to produce a fi...

It is generally known that the friction and wear between polymers and polished steel surfaces has a special character, the behaviour to friction and wear of a certain polymer might not be valid for a d ifferent polymer, moreover in dry friction conditions. In this paper, the reaction to wear of certain polymers with short glass fibres (polyamide + 20% glass fibres, polyamide + 30% glass fibres ...

This chapter presents an overview of methods for cellulose fibres functionalization in order to introduce antimicrobial activity. In view the need for ecologically friendly textiles antimicrobial finishing is introduced, together with some strategies for the functionalization of fibres using biodegradable polysaccharides such as the use of chitosan. Additionally, the methods used for the microb...

The present work investigated the effect of fibre's presence on densification rotomoulding-grade polyethylene. Nevertheless, fibres during directly impacts current understanding how works heating. focuses fibre-reinforced polymer to study fibre addition bubble formation this process. A test was developed observe and measure addition's disappearance. focused measuring cross-section area correspo...