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Influence of the Processes Parameters on the Properties of The ...

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Chapter 4.<br />

Experimental Procedures and Protocols for Analyses<br />

PLA<br />

B<br />

PLA<br />

Polymer<br />

granulates<br />

C<br />

Ground fine<br />

powder<br />

Screened<br />

powder<br />

PLGA<br />

A<br />

Granulates in<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chamber<br />

Knife mill with<br />

water circulati<strong>on</strong><br />

Screening mesh:<br />

SS frame & Cloth<br />

Overall height = 1-3/4"<br />

Depth to cloth:<br />

1-1/4" (32 mm)<br />

PLGA<br />

Figure 4.1: Polylactide granulates size reducti<strong>on</strong> by knife mill.<br />

Few tens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> grams <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chosen polymers were introduced in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> knife mill which was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n<br />

closed. Cold water was allowed to circulate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mill double jacket. Copolymers such as PLGA 85:15 (PLG ,<br />

PLG 8531, LG 857 S, … ) are granules, that must be initially pre-ground in batches, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> knife mill for a<br />

specified time that more than 95% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground material is recovered. Each material was ground in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

knife mill for alternative time On/Off <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 60 s to avoid melting or degradati<strong>on</strong>. Times required to recover<br />

95% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initial polymer depends <strong>on</strong> its inherent viscosity. <strong>The</strong>n, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pre-ground product was recovered<br />

and sieved according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedure presented.<br />

Waxes used were pre-ground in knife mill but <strong>on</strong>ly for 30 s. <strong>The</strong> wax obtained was very fine that<br />

100% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wax removed after pre-grinding passed through 500 mesh sieve. This wax will be utilized latter <strong>on</strong><br />

as porogen for preparing a mixture with polymer to obtain better scaffolds.<br />

1.1.2 Tumbling Ball Mill Grinding<br />

<strong>The</strong> pre-ground and sieved product was ground in a tumbling ball mill Prolabo ® (cf. Figure 4.2) to<br />

several tens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> micrometers, value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> size that could not be reached with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> knife mill. <strong>The</strong> tumbling<br />

ball mill has a grinding chamber with a capacity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5 liters, a height <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 32 cm and a diameter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 27 cm.<br />

Sieved polymer<br />

powder<br />

Balls <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 9.6, 19.0 and<br />

34 mm diameter<br />

B<br />

Gloves<br />

Stop watch<br />

Ceramic lid<br />

Closing plate<br />

Crushing<br />

chamber<br />

Balance<br />

C<br />

D<br />

Tumbling ball mill with<br />

accessories<br />

Metallic<br />

rollers<br />

Joint seal<br />

Speed regulator<br />

Electric switch<br />

A<br />

E<br />

Tumbling Ball Mill Descripti<strong>on</strong><br />

Filler<br />

F<br />

Sieve<br />

Co-ground<br />

Material / Mixture<br />

Cleaning<br />

brush<br />

Spatula<br />

Ethanol<br />

Gloves<br />

Figure 4.2: Milling process in tumbling ball mill.<br />

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