The quantitative model proposed here for nanoimprinting by thermoplastic compression molding is focused on bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), but it is also applicable to polymers and other thermoplastic materials. In our model the flow and pressure fields are evaluated using the lubrication theory, and the effect of molding pressure, BMG viscosity, and capillary pressure on the spatial distribution...

Developing an appreciation for the mechanical behavior of polymers materials in a lecture mode can be challenging for students if they have not bad the benefit of a laboratory experience. We have developed a simp le demonstration of thermoplastic polymeric behav ior using low-density polyethylene bags. The demonstration illustrates strengthening, rate effects, and directionality of strengthenin...

3D printers that build objects using extruded thermoplastic are quickly becoming commonplace tools in laboratories. We demonstrate that with appropriate handling, these devices are capable of producing sterile components from a non-sterile feedstock of thermoplastic without any treatment after fabrication. The fabrication process itself results in sterilization of the material. The resulting 3D...

Clear thermoplastic retainers have been widely used in daily orthodontics; however, they have inherent limitations associated with thermoplastic polymer materials such as dimensional instability, low strength, and poor wear resistance. To solve these problems, we developed a new type of clear orthodontic retainer that incorporates multi-layer hybrid materials. It consists of three layers; an ou...

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 ...

Mechanical properties are crucial for screening orthodontic thermoplastic materials for invisible aligners. However, most of previous studies were carried out within laboratory conditions which limit our understanding of the mechanical behaviors of aligners within oral environment. In this study, we studied the dynamic stress relaxation of thermoplastic materials by combination of Bose ElectroF...

In this Article, we studied the enzymatic hydrolytic biodegradation behavior of a novel multiblock thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) system, which incorporates polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) into linear biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethanes containing poly(ε-caproactone) (PCL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks. The biodegradation behavior of POSS-PCL-PEG TPUs was characterize...

Thermoplastic proteins can be prepared by using a suitable plasticizer and by using a proper combination of mechanical shear and heat. The amount of plasticizer and the processing conditions leads to materials with different chemical and physical properties which can be optimized to produce films, fibers and foams. The effect of type and amount of plasticizer, and the effect of processing condi...

Each year about 50 Million tons polymer is processed to fibers worldwide [1]. Polymeric fibers are manufactured into all sorts of daily as well as industrial goods [2, 3]. The most prominent materials are thermoplastic among which poly(ethylene terephtalat) (PET), polyamides (PA) and polypropylene (PP) make up the largest fraction [4]. Other thermoplastic polymers such as poly(vinylidene fluori...