Key words
Objectives
Part 1: plastics
The student is learned to make a selection among a lot of plastics, with
their own, sometimes strongly different, properties. He/she has to let
inspire himself/herself by the application conditions of the endproduct, by
the possibilities in design and processing, by economical factors as well as
by ecological aspects. The choice of one material above the other has to be
critically evaluated.
Part 2: composite materials
The aim is to give a survey of the different raw materials (resins,
reinforcements) and processing methods, used by this kind of "new
materials". An introduction is given to the theory of strength and stiffness
of different types of composites in order to perform a simple and first
design.
Topics
Part 1: plastics
Thorough discussion of the commercial plastics, from the polyolefins, over
the other vinyl polymers, over the condensation and the engineering
plastics, to the elastomers and the thermosets. In each case the formation,
the mechanical, physical and chemical properties, the processing and the
applications, the special types, copolymers and blends are given.
Part 2: composite materials
Definition and situation; discussion of the raw materials (resins,
reinforcements), processing techniques, simple calculations of strength and
stiffness.
Prerequisites
The students must have a sufficient knowledge of polymers and of general
materials science. The study is facilitated if there are some notions of the
relation between structure and properties (e.g. the course "chemistry of
plastics"), but this is not a prerequisite.
Final Objectives
Materials used
Teacher's course. Additional notes and background information, given during
the lectures, belong also to the examination subject.
Textbooks for optional background information:
* "Plastics Materials", J.A. Brydson; Butterworths, 1989.
* "Saechtling Int. Plastics Handbook", W. Woebcken; Hanser Publishers, 1995.
* "Analysis & Performance of Fiber Composites", B.D.Agarwal and
L.J.Broutman; Wiley Interscience, 1990.
* "Guide Pratique des Materiaux Composites", M.Geier et D.Duedal; Technique
et Documentation, Paris, 1985.
* Recent publications in different journals and textbooks.
Study costs
Study guidance
Teaching Methods
Lectures.
The lectures are illustrated with a lot of examples,(plastics materials and
composites from different application domains ).
Assessment
Written examination with oral explanation (open questions concerning the
course and the additional notes).
Lecturer(s)
Paul VANHEE
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