Mesures de champ dans des écoulements complexes pour l'identification du comportement d'un polyéthylène basse densité

http://hdl.handle.net/2042/16620International audienceIn this study, we present preliminary experimental results for the evaluation and identification of constitutive equations for viscoelastic polymer melts using flow field measurements such as Laser-Doppler velocimetry and flow-induced birefringence. We focus on the influence of temperature and flow rate on the vortex size of a secondary flow of a low density polyethylene which strongly depends on balance between shear and extensional rheological properties of the material. Further work will show that this method, coupled with numerical simulations, can be applied to identify non-linear parameters of a Pom-pom like constitutive equation by using an inverse analysis procedure = On présente les premiers résultats d'une étude dont le contexte est l'évaluation et l'identification de lois de comportement par l'utilisation de méthodes de mesures de champ telles que la vélocimétrie Laser-Doppler et la biréfringence d'écoulement. On s'intéresse à l'influence de la température et du débit sur la taille de recirculations dans l'écoulement d'un polyéthylène basse densité. La taille de ces recirculations est fortement dépendante des propriétés mécaniques relatives du matériau en cisaillement et élongation. Ces mesures seront utilisées pour l'identification d'un modèle de type pom-pom par une méthode d'identification inverse

Investigation of LDPE converging flows using fieldwise measurements techniques

International audienceThis study is devoted to the analysis of the secondary flow of a low-density polyethylene melt occurring in the entrance region of extrusion dies. From a processing point of view, the appearance of secondary flows can lead to flow instabilities (as observed for helical defect in circular channels) and polymer degradation (due to long residence times). The flow is investigated in the entrance region of a flow channel by means of both Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and Flow Induced Birefringence (FIB) using a transparent slit die with a planar contraction of 14:1. We focus on the influence of temperature T and flow rate Q on the vortex size of the secondary flow, which strongly depends on balance between shear and extensional rheological properties of the material, as previously observed by means of LDV. The same dependence with T and Q is also observed on FIB patterns, in which one can identify a boundary line which exhibits a strong contrast in the birefringence pattern. This contrast could be related to the fact that molecular conformations (and consequently the birefringence pattern) change locally due to a different thermomechanical history, which indeed would occur close to the vortex boundary

Improved adhesion for thermoplastic polymers using oxyfluorination

Industrial applications of thermoplastic polymers are often limited by their poor adhesion properties. In this work the effect of surface oxyfluorination on the adhesion properties was investigated for polyethylene (PE), polyoxymethylene (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide 6 (PA6). The adhesive joint strength was quantified using lap-shear tests. These results were correlated with the changes in the chemical composition of the surface, determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in the surface free energy, measured by the contact angle method, and in the topography, using white-light confocal microscopy. The adhesive strength is strongly improved for all four polymers, but the degree of this increase depends on the polymer type. The surface free energy shows a similar trend for all four polymers. A high surface free energy exceeding 50 mN/m was observed after oxy-fluorination, whereby the polar component was strongly predominant. Surface topography measurements show no significant increase of the surface roughness. So the effect of oxyfluorination results primarily in increased wettability and polarity, due to changes of the chemical composition of the surface. XPS measurements confirm the integration of fluorine and oxygen groups in the polymer chain, which correlates with the increased polarity

Mesures de champ dans des écoulements complexes pour l'identification du comportement d'un polyéthylène basse densité

In this study, we present preliminary experimental results for the evaluation and identification of constitutive equations for viscoelastic polymer melts using flow field measurements such as Laser-Doppler velocimetry and flow-induced birefringence. We focus on the influence of temperature and flow rate on the vortex size of a secondary flow of a low density polyethylene which strongly depends on balance between shear and extensional rheological properties of the material. Further work will show that this method, coupled with numerical simulations, can be applied to identify non-linear parameters of a Pom-pom like constitutive equation by using an inverse analysis procedure

Role of dexamethasone dosage in combination with 5-HT3 antagonists for prophylaxis of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Dexamethasone (20 mg) or its equivalent in combination with 5-HT3 antagonists appears to be the gold-standard dose for antiemetic prophylaxis. Additional to concerns about the use of corticosteroids with respect to enhanced tumour growth or impaired killing of the tumour cells, there is evidence that high-dosage dexamethasone impairs the control of delayed nausea and emesis, whereas lower doses appear more beneficial. To come closer to the most adequate dose, we started a prospective, single-blind, randomized trial investigating additional dosage of 8 or 20 mg dexamethasone to tropisetron (Navoban), a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, in cis-platinum-containing chemotherapy. After an interim analysis of 121 courses of chemotherapy in 69 patients, we have been unable to detect major differences between both treatment alternatives. High-dose dexamethasone (20 mg) had no advantage over medium-dose dexamethasone with respect to objective and subjective parameters of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. In relation to concerns about the use of corticosteroids in non-haematological cancer chemotherapy, we suggest that 8 mg or its equivalent should be used in combination with 5-HT3 antagonists until further research proves otherwise. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Importance of basophil activation testing in insect venom allergy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the only effective treatment for prevention of serious allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings in sensitized individuals. However, there are still many questions and controversies regarding immunotherapy, like selection of the appropriate allergen, safety and long term efficacy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Literature review was performed to address the role of basophil activation test (BAT) in diagnosis of venom allergy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In patients with positive skin tests or specific IgE to both honeybee and wasp venom, IgE inhibition test can identify sensitizing allergen only in around 15% and basophil activation test increases the identification rate to around one third of double positive patients. BAT is also diagnostic in majority of patients with systemic reactions after insect stings and no detectable IgE. High basophil sensitivity to allergen is associated with a risk of side effects during VIT. Persistence of high basophil sensitivity also predicts a treatment failure of VIT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BAT is a useful tool for better selection of allergen for immunotherapy, for identification of patients prone to side effects and patients who might be treatment failures. However, long term studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of the test.</p

Antimicrobial polymers from polypropylene/silver composites—Ag+ release measured by anode stripping voltammetry

Polypropylene/silver composites were subjected to silver ion release experiments in order to investigate their Ag+ release capabilities, a pertinent condition for antimicrobial efficacy. Polypropylene containing elementary silver powder having a specific surface area of 0.78 m2/g was considered as the principal antimicrobial filler. In addition the effectiveness of other commercial antimicrobials based on silver were also examined. Evidence is presented for the release of silver ions from these composites in an aqueous environment. The silver ion release depends on the nature of the antimicrobial filler and the polymer matrix. Scanning electron microscopy has been employed to investigate the morphology of the composite and they were found to be active against the microbes. An excellent correlation between the silver ion release experiments and the antimicrobial efficacy was found. Multifilament yarns produced from polypropylene containing elementary silver powder show excellent long term Ag+ release properties. � 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved