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

Chapter 4.
Experimental Procedures and Protocols for Analyses
applied. The schematic representation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> preparation method is given in <strong>the</strong> Figure 4.6. Ethanol was used
for reducing electrostatic charge at each grinding step during <strong>the</strong> process.
Polylactide fibres
Pre-grinding (30 sec)
with <strong>the</strong> knife mill
Mineral phase
(TCP (Sr) , TCP (Sr) )
Polymer
fine fibres
Adjuvant
(Wax, HA)
Organic + Mineral blends
Co-grinding stage: (60 min)
with <strong>the</strong> ball mill
•Highly static flakes
•Sprayed 2~3 ml Ethanol
•Dried for 48 hrs
Post-grinding stage (30 sec)
with <strong>the</strong> knife mill
•Polymer matrix powder
•Highly electrostatic
•Sprayed 2~3 ml ethanol
•Dried for 96 hrs
Fine matrix powder with agglomerates
Post grinding stage (10 min)
Crushing agglomerates with a mortar
Matrix flakes
Matrix powder
Blend <strong>of</strong> flakes and powder to
manufacture pellets
Figure 4.6: Multistep size reduction <strong>of</strong> composite.
1.4 Preparation <strong>of</strong> Pellets by Dry Method
1.4.1 Evacuable Pellet Die
Evacuable pellet dies were used to produce circular pellets <strong>of</strong> 13 mm in diameter as standard. All
parts were manufactured from hardened stainless steel, and surfaces that come in contact with <strong>the</strong> sample
were highly polished. Each pellet die comprises an evacuable base (50.8 mm base diameter), body, plunger
(34.8 mm height), set <strong>of</strong> pellets, extractor ring, and O Ring Kit. As shown in Figure 4.7, polyimide film is
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