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Tecnologia delle Materie Plastiche e dei Compositi
Tecnology of Plastics and Composites
Gabriella Roventi

Seat Ingegneria
A.A. 2016/2017
Credits 6
Hours 48
Period II
Language ENG

Prerequisites
the student should have a basic culture of chemistry, physics and material science

Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The course has the aim to give to the students the useful knowledge to relate the structure of polymeric materials with their technological properties. This knowledge, by integrating the knowledge gained in the basic science courses, are intended to extent the students education in Industrial Engineering on polymeric materials and their applications, with particular attention to their biocompatibility, where necessary.
CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
In order to address the issues related to the engineering applications and innovations, the course aims to provide to the students the tools for designing and producing articles made of polymeric material and, more generally, to provide to the students the ability to solve problems, to formulate suitable solutions. This ability will be gained through a number of vocational skills, such as: 1. the ability to distinguish the various types of polymeric materials in order to be able to choose the one most suitable for a specific application; 2. the ability to identify the problems associated with a given material and/or plastic articles in order to suggest the best strategies for their solution; 3. the ability to perform experiments, even complex ones, with or without laboratory equipment and the ability to perform critical analysis of possible experimental data.
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS:
The knowledge gained by the students allow them to improve their independent judgment skill on issues and their solution strategies, using critically specialist literature and always keeping in mind the respect of human health. This last point provides the ability to the Biomedical Engineer to work with other professionals, especially in the medical field.

Program
Definition of polymeric materials. Simple polymerization processes for thermoplastic and/or thermosetting polymers. Structure of polymer materials. Amorphous and semi-crystalline materials. Mechanical and rheological properties in relation to the structure of polymeric materials. Characterization tests on plastic materials. Modification of the properties of virgin polymers with additives and/or fillers to obtain the compounds used in the processing technologies. Concepts of shear viscosity, elongation viscosity, viscoelasticity and relaxation time. Theoretical models for studying the viscoelasticity. Obtaining a master curve with exercises by means of PC. An outline of compression and transfer moulding. Injection moulding. Analysis of designing critical parameters for the products and the moulds; analysis of process parameters. Volume shrinkage. Moulding cycle. Examples of industrial problems met on injection moulding. Extrusion of solid and hollow profiles. Particular characteristics of the screw. Simplified rheological study of the plasticizing barrel-screw system. Extrusion operating point. Forming dies and calibrators. Production of plastic sheets and films. Processes of calendering, thermoforming, injection-blow moulding, extrusion-blow moulding. Examples of industrial processes. Mechanical properties of composite materials with polymer based matrix. General characteristics of the filler elements as fibers and particles.

Development of the examination
LEARNING EVALUATION METHODS
The assessment of student learning consists of two tests: - a written test, consisting in the solution of some exercises and some theoretical questions, for a total of 6-7 problems that will focus on topics covered in the course. The written test will be completed in two hours. - an oral test, consisting in the discussion of one or more topics covered in the course. During the oral test it will also be discussed the performance gaps found in the written test. The written test is preparatory for the oral exam and for accessing to it, the student must have obtained at least a pass in the written test. The oral examination must be taken in the same session of the written test. In case of failure of the oral exam, the student will have to repeat the written test.

LEARNING EVALUATION CRITERIA
To successfully pass the whole examination, the student must demonstrate, by means of the tests described above, to have an overall knowledge of the topics covered during the course. The highest points are achieved by demonstrating an exhaustive understanding of the course contents and the ability to relate the properties of polymeric materials with their structure, as well as the basic principles of their production processes.

LEARNING MEASUREMENT CRITERIA
For each of the tests specified before, it is assigned a mark between zero and thirty. The final mark, related to thirty, is the average of the marks obtained in the two tests, with the approximation by excess to the upper integer.

FINAL MARK ALLOCATION CRITERIA
In order to obtain an overall positive evaluation, the student must achieve at least a pass, amounting to eighteen points in each of the tests described above. Full marks with distinction is given to students who, having done all the tests correctly, have demonstrated a complete knowledge of the course topics.

Recommended reading
H. Saechtling, Manuale delle materie plastiche 7° ed., Tecniche Nuove, Milano, 1996. S. Bruckner, G. Allegra, M. Pegoraro, F. P. La Mantia, Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali Polimerici 2° ed., EdiSES, Napoli, 2007. G. Gozzelino, Materie Plastiche, Hoepli, Milano, 2007.

Courses

• Ingegneria Biomedica (Corso di Laurea Triennale (DM 270/04))
• Ingegneria Meccanica (Corso di Laurea Magistrale (DM 270/04))