Metallurgy for Dummies

What  are Biopolymers ?

Biopolymers are polymers that are biodegradable. The input materials for the production of these polymers may be either renewable (based on agricultural plant or animal products) or synthetic.

Biopolymers are polymers produced by living organisms

According to ASTM standard D-5488-94d, biodegradable means capable of undergoing decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane water, inorganic compounds, or biomass in which the predominant mechanisms is the enzymatic action of micro-organisms that can be measured by standard tests, over a specific period of time, reflecting available disposal conditions. There are different media (liquid, inert or compost medium) to analyse biodegradability. Compostability is material biodegradability using compost medium. Biodegradation is the degradation of an organic material caused by biological activity – mainly microorganisms’ enzymatic action.

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What is Polymer Clay ?

Polymer clay is a sculptable material based on the polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It usually contains no clay minerals, and is only called “clay” because its texture and working properties resemble those of mineral clay. It is sold in craft, hobby, and art stores, and is used by artists, hobbyists, and children.

Polymer clays all contain a basis of PVC and one or more of several kinds of liquid plasticizer. Pigments may be added to the translucent base to create a variety of colors, along with small amounts of kaolin or white china clay or other opaquing agents where opacity is desired. Mica may be added to simulate pearlescent and metallic effects.

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What is Polymer Matrix Composite ?

Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) is the material consisting of a polymer (resin) matrix combined with a fibrous reinforcing dispersed phase. Polymer Matrix Composites are very popular due to their low cost and simple fabrication methods.

Fokker Landing Gear has been actively engaged in the development of technologies for the application of thick-walled Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC) at F-35 in flight critical primary structural components for landing gears for over fifteen years.

Use of non-reinforced polymers as structure materials is limited by low level of their mechanical properties: tensile strength of one of the strongest polymers – epoxy resin is 20000 psi (140 MPa). In addition to relatively low strength, polymer materials possess low impact resistance.

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Electroactive Polymers

Electroactive Polymers, or EAPs, are polymers that exhibit a change in size or shape when stimulated by an electric field. The most common applications of this type of material are in actuators and sensors. A typical characteristic property of an EAP is that they will undergo a large amount of deformation while sustaining large forces.

The majority of historic actuators are made of ceramic piezoelectric materials. While these materials are able to withstand large forces, they commonly will only deform a fraction of a percent. In the late 1990s, it has been demonstrated that some EAPs can exhibit up to a 380% strain, which is much more than any ceramic actuator. Another one of the most common applications for EAPs is in the field of robotics in the development of artificial muscles. Due to this being one of the most common and attractive applications, EAPs are often referred to as artificial muscles.

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