pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S02 - (General Session 2) Extrusion
Keynote Presentation
 
 

Fractal structuring

Meijer Han (1)*, Neerincx Peter E. (2), Gorodetskyi Oleksandr (1), Schaller Raphael (3), Tervoort Theo A. (3), Smith Paul (3)

(1) TU Eindhoven - Eindhoven - Netherlands, (2) Sabic Innovative Plastics - Bergen op Zoom - Netherlands, (3) Polymer Technology ETHZ - Zurich - Switzerland

Nature gives us a number of examples of fractal surfaces in geology and in biology. Biomimetics applies nature’s principles in technical applications. In research topics like polymer photovoltaics and polymer membranes large interfaces are required between two materials that are each continuously connected to allow fast and efficient transport. We try seeking alternatives for the presently used rather uncontrolled and inefficient co-continuous structures that follow from phase separation. The hierarchic structure of the dendritic design of trees inspired polymer chemists to create dendrimers via a precise step-by-step control of polymerization. This paper explores possibilities to mimic nature in polymer processing, notably in discontinuous two-component injection moulding and in continuous extrusion processes, to create fractal structures using a dendritic design by applying a combination of “many times repetition of the same” to create multi-layered structures and a “controlled step-by-step layer addition” to introduce hierarchy. Based on microfluidic practice, an optimized splitting and recombining static mixer is realized on the parting surface of moulds and inside extrusion dies. Different geometries are used to multiply, rotate and add stratified structures. After the obvious structuring of a huge number of parallel layers, attention is focused on realizing these layers perpendicular to the product’s surface. A combination of the two allows obtaining complex hierarchic fractal structures.