Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Advanced polymer techniques

Advanced polymer techniques are designed to produce some of the unique products and latest industrial developments and fabrication methods. These methods originate from both industry and academia for the growth of polymer applications and meeting the demands of the future. Polymers are combined with other materials such as metal to create hybrids to offer the properties of both the materials. Polymer-metal hybrids are produced by friction spot joining which is used to join lightweight alloys such as aluminium and magnesium having high performance composites and thermoplastics. The friction spot welding machine melts and deforms the metal due to heat friction and compressive force. A metallic hub is created which is inserted through the composite. At the same time a thin layer of molten polymer matrix is displaced around the joining area. The joint is formed later after the fixation of the polymeric molten layer. These are the two phenomena involved in the joining mechanism. Similar, methods are being developed for producing more and more unique polymers having advanced architecture to be utilized in a more specified application.