23 results on '"G. Steinbichler"'
Search Results
2. Viscosity Analysis of a Polymer-Based Drug Delivery System Using Open-Source CFD Methods and High-Pressure Capillary Rheometry
- Author
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H. R. Juster, Theresa Distlbacher, and G. Steinbichler
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_classification ,Materials science ,Polymers and Plastics ,Rheometry ,business.industry ,Capillary action ,General Chemical Engineering ,Analytical chemistry ,Polymer ,Mechanics ,Computational fluid dynamics ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Shear (sheet metal) ,Viscosity ,chemistry ,Materials Chemistry ,business ,Material properties ,Melt flow index - Abstract
In this study the viscosity behavior of the polymer-based drug delivery system (Soluplus-Fenofibrate) at high shear rates was investigated using (i) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods and (ii) experimental data acquired with a high-pressure capillary rheometer. The barrel and capillary were rebuilt in the virtual domain by means of finite-volume methods and used for fluid dynamic simulations. Our primary focus was on validating the Carreau-Winter and Yasuda material models in the Open Field Operation and Manipulation program (OpenFOAM) and investigating their usefulness in this type of simulation. First, the models were fitted to experimental data from a well-known system – polystyrene type (145D, BASF). The results showed that the Yasuda model fit must be applied to obtain the correct material properties when simulating a non-Newtonian melt flow in a wide range of shear rates. The Carreau-Winter model was found to be valid only in the zero shear-rate viscosity region. On the basis of these findings, the Soluplus-Fenofibrate system was subsequently characterized and simulated. We observed that Fenofibrate (lipid-regulating agent) acts as a plasticizer in this polymer system and decreases system viscosity at lower shear rates compared to pure the Soluplus (polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer) at the same temperatures. Our results show that the viscosity models can be implemented accurately even for processes with high shear rates, which also involve high temperatures.
- Published
- 2014
3. Injection molding as a one-step process for the direct production of pharmaceutical dosage forms from primary powders
- Author
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Gerold Koscher, Johannes Khinast, G Steinbichler, Daniel Franz Treffer, H. R. Juster, Karin Eggenreich, Eva Roblegg, Simone Schrank, Stephan Laske, and Sarah Windhab
- Subjects
Drug Liberation ,Materials science ,Time Factors ,Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ,Drug Compounding ,Pellets ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,Molding (process) ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Dosage form ,Polyethylene Glycols ,Matrix (chemical analysis) ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Fenofibrate ,Pellet ,Drug Carriers ,Chromatography ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Extrusion ,Polyvinyls ,Powders ,0210 nano-technology ,Drug carrier ,Tablets - Abstract
The objective of the present study was to develop a one-step process for the production of tablets directly from primary powder by means of injection molding (IM), to create solid-dispersion based tablets. Fenofibrate was used as the model API, a polyvinyl caprolactame-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft co-polymer served as a matrix system. Formulations were injection-molded into tablets using state-of-the-art IM equipment. The resulting tablets were physico-chemically characterized and the drug release kinetics and mechanism were determined. Comparison tablets were produced, either directly from powder or from pre-processed pellets prepared via hot melt extrusion (HME). The content of the model drug in the formulations was 10% (w/w), 20% (w/w) and 30% (w/w), respectively. After 120min, both powder-based and pellet-based injection-molded tablets exhibited a drug release of 60% independent of the processing route. Content uniformity analysis demonstrated that the model drug was homogeneously distributed. Moreover, analysis of single dose uniformity also revealed geometric drug homogeneity between tablets of one shot.
- Published
- 2015
4. Determination of heat transfer coefficients at the polymer-mold-interface for injection molding simulation by means of calorimetry
- Author
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G. Steinbichler and M. Stricker
- Subjects
Materials science ,Convective heat transfer ,Heat flux ,Mold ,Heat transfer ,medicine ,Thermodynamics ,Calorimetry ,Heat transfer coefficient ,Molding (process) ,Composite material ,medicine.disease_cause ,Shrinkage - Abstract
Appropriate modeling of heat transfer from the polymer material to the injection mold is essential to achieve accurate simulation results. The heat transfer is commonly modeled using convective heat transfer and applying heat transfer coefficients (HTC) to the polymer-mold-interface. The set HTC has an influence on the results for filling pressure, cooling performance and shrinkage, among others. The current paper, presents a new strategy to measure HTC in injection molding experiments using Newtons law of cooling. The heat flux is calculated out of demolding heat (measured by means of calorimetry), injection heat (measured by means of an IR-sensor), cooling time and part mass. Cavity surface area, average mold surface temperature and average part surface temperature lead to the HTC.
- Published
- 2014
5. Ultrasound based monitoring of the injection moulding process - Methods, applications and limitations
- Author
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K. Straka, G. Steinbichler, J. Usanovic, and B. Praher
- Subjects
Materials science ,business.industry ,Attenuation ,Ultrasound ,Process (computing) ,equipment and supplies ,Pulse (physics) ,Transmission (telecommunications) ,Forensic engineering ,Ultrasonic sensor ,Injection moulding ,Tomography ,Composite material ,business - Abstract
We developed novel non-invasive ultrasound based systems for the measurement of temperature distributions in the screw-ante chamber, the detection of unmelted granules and for the monitoring of the plasticizing process along the screw channel. The temperature of the polymer melt stored in the screw ante-chamber after the plasticization should be homogeneous. However, in reality the polymer melt in the screw ante-chamber is not homogeneous. Due to the fact the sound velocity in a polymer melt is temperature depending, we developed a tomography system using the measured transit times of ultrasonic pulses along different sound paths for calculating the temperature distribution in radial direction of a polymer melt in the screw ante-chamber of an injection moulding machine. For the detection of unmelted granules in the polymer melt we implemented an ultrasound transmission measurement. By analyzing the attenuation of the received pulses it is possible to detect unwanted inclusions. For the monitoring of the plasticizing process in the channels of the screw an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted into the barrel. By analyzing the reflected pulses it is possible to estimate solid bed and melt regions in the screw channel. The proposed systems were tested for accuracy and validity by simulations and test measurements.
- Published
- 2014
6. Analyzing melt homogeneity in a single screw plasticizing unit of an injection molding machine
- Author
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B. Praher, K. Straka, and G. Steinbichler
- Subjects
Materials science ,business.industry ,Thermal ,Homogeneity (physics) ,Computational fluid dynamics ,Composite material ,business ,Polymer melt ,Injection molding machine - Abstract
In injection molding investigations on mixing efficiency and thermal homogeneity of the melt in the screw chamber are of great interest as the directly effect the quality of the molded parts. For most injection molding applications mixing is performed in the single screw plasticizing unit of the injection molding machine. In this work, a CFD approach with two coupled fluid domains is used in order to describe the plasticizing process in an injection molding machine. One domain rotates and translates in axial direction (screw), the other one increases its length (chamber). On basis of the calculated pressure, velocity and temperature field of the polymer melt the thermal melt homogeneity is investigated. To analyze the optical-mechanical homogeneity of the melt a Euler-Lagrangian method is used to calculate the distribution of tracer particles within the screw chamber.
- Published
- 2013
7. Using Heating and Cooling Presses in Combination to Optimize the Consolidation Process of Polycarbonate-Based Unidirectional Thermoplastic Composite Tapes.
- Author
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Birtha J, Kobler E, Marschik C, Straka K, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
The main aim of this work was to optimize the consolidation of unidirectional fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite tapes made of polycarbonate and carbon fibers using a heating press and a cooling press in combination. Two comprehensive studies were carried out to investigate the impact of process settings and conditions on the quality of the consolidated parts. The initial screening study provided valuable insights that informed the design of the second study, in which the experimental design was expanded and various modifications, including the implementation of a frame tool, were introduced. The second study demonstrated that the modifications in combination with a high heating press temperature and elevated heating and cooling pressures successfully achieved the desired goals: the desired thickness (2 mm), improved bonding strength (23% increase), and reduced void content (down to 4.64%) in the consolidated parts.
- Published
- 2023
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8. Optimizing the Process of Spot Welding of Polycarbonate-Matrix-Based Unidirectional (UD) Thermoplastic Composite Tapes.
- Author
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Birtha J, Marschik C, Kobler E, Straka K, Steinbichler G, Schlecht S, and Zwicklhuber P
- Abstract
The aim of this work was to optimize spot welding of unidirectional tapes made of polycarbonate and carbon fibers. Three studies were performed to investigate the influences of various welding conditions on the quality of the welded spot. First, we used a full factorial experimental design to analyze the influence of temperature and time on the welds' tensile stress at break. Second, we repeated the experiment with optimized settings and conditions. Finally, we adopted a central composite design (CCD) to investigate the stability of the process. Our results show that temperature had the greatest influence on weld quality. The maximum tensile stress achieved was 23 MPa. Using a relatively high temperature for a short welding time resulted in self-cleaning of the welding head and in a faster and more stable process, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed that these conditions caused no additional degradation.
- Published
- 2023
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9. A Novel Multi-Region, Multi-Phase, Multi-Component-Mixture Modeling Approach to Predicting the Thermodynamic Behaviour of Thermoplastic Composites during the Consolidation Process.
- Author
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Kobler E, Birtha J, Marschik C, Straka K, Steinbichler G, Zwicklhuber P, and Schlecht S
- Abstract
In the processing of thermoplastic composites, great importance is attributed to the consolidation step, as it can significantly reduce the porosity of the semi-finished product and thus influence considerably the quality of the final component. This work presents an approach to modeling the thermodynamic behavior of composite materials during hot-press consolidation. For this purpose a multi-region, multi-phase and multi-component-mixture model was developed using the simulation toolbox OpenFOAM
® . The sensitivity of the model was tested by varying the thermal parameters and mesh resolution, confirming its robustness. Validity of the model was confirmed by comparing simulation results to experimental data for (i) polycarbonate with 44% carbon fiber by volume and (ii) polypropylene with 45.3% glass fiber by volume. The simulation allows very precise estimation of when a particular temperature, such as the glass transition temperature or melting point, will be reached at the core of a composite. In relation to the total process time, maximum deviation of the simulation from the experimental data amounted to 2.84%. Therefore, the model is well suited for process optimization, it offers a basis for further model implementations and the creation of a digital twin.- Published
- 2022
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10. Influence of Rapid Consolidation on Co-Extruded Additively Manufactured Composites.
- Author
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Savandaiah C, Sieberer S, Plank B, Maurer J, Steinbichler G, and Sapkota J
- Abstract
Composite filament co-extrusion (CFC) additive manufacturing (AM) is a bi-matrix rapid fabrication technique that is used to produce highly customisable composite parts. By this method, pre-cured, thermoset-based composite carbon fibre (CCF) is simultaneously extruded along with thermoplastic (TP) binding melt as the matrix. Like additive manufacturing, CFC technology also has inherent challenges which include voids, defects and a reduction in CCF's volume in the fabricated parts. Nevertheless, CFC AM is an emerging composite processing technology, a highly customisable and user-oriented manufacturing unit. A new TP-based composites processing technique has the potential to be synergised with conventional processing techniques such as injection moulding to produce lightweight composite parts. Thus, CFC AM can be a credible technology to replace unsustainable subtractive manufacturing, if only the defects are minimised and processing reliability is achieved. The main objective of this research is to investigate and reduce internal voids and defects by utilising compression pressing as a rapid consolidation post-processing technique. Post-processing techniques are known to reduce the internal voids in AM-manufactured parts, depending on the TP matrices. Accordingly, the rapid consolidated neat polylactic acid (PLA) TP matrix showed the highest reduction in internal voids, approximately 92%. The PLA and polyamide 6 (PA6) binding matrix were reinforced with short carbon fibre (SCF) and long carbon fibre (LCF), respectively, to compensate for the CCF's fibre volume reduction. An increase in tensile strength (ca. 12%) and modulus (ca. 30%) was observed in SCF-filled PLA. Furthermore, an approximately 53% increase in tensile strength and a 76% increase in modulus for LCF-reinforced PA6 as the binding matrix was observed. Similar trends were observed in CFC and rapidly consolidated CFC specimens' flexural properties, resulting due to reduced internal voids.
- Published
- 2022
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11. Additively Manufactured Composite Lug with Continuous Carbon Fibre Steering Based on Finite Element Analysis.
- Author
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Savandaiah C, Sieberer S, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
In this study, the influence of curvilinear fibre reinforcement on the load-carrying capacity of additively manufactured continuous carbon fibre reinforced necked double shear lugs was investigated. A curvilinear fibre placement is descriptive of layers in extrusion-based continuous-fibre-reinforced additive manufacturing with carbon fibres aligned in the directions of principal stress. The alternating layered fibre trajectories follow the maximum and minimum principal stress directions due to axial tension loading derived from two-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). The digital image correlation was utilised to monitor the strain distribution during the application of tensile load. The 2D FEA data and the tensile test results obtained were comparable, the part strength and the linear approximation of stiffness data variability were minimal and well within the acceptable range. Nondestructive fractography was performed by utilising computed tomography (CT) to analyse the fractured regions of the tensile-tested lug. The CT scanned images aided in deducing the failure phenomenon in layered lugs; process-induced voids and fibre layup undulation were identified as the cause for lug failure.
- Published
- 2022
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12. Improving Layer Adhesion of Co-Extruded Polymer Sheets by Inducing Interfacial Flow Instabilities.
- Author
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Rathner R, Leimhofer C, Roland W, Hammer A, Löw-Baselli B, Steinbichler G, and Hild S
- Abstract
Co-extrusion is commonly used to produce polymer multilayer products with different materials tailoring the property profiles. Adhesion between the individual layers is crucial to the overall performance of the final structure. Layer adhesion is determined by the compatibility of the polymers at the interface and their interaction forces, causing for example the formation of adhesive or chemical bonds or an interdiffusion layer. Additionally, the processing conditions, such as temperature, residence time, cooling rate, and interfacial shear stress, have a major influence on the interactions and hence resulting layer adhesion. Influences of temperature and residence time are already quite well studied, but influence of shear load on the formation of an adhesion layer is less explored and controversially discussed in existing literature. In this work, we investigated the influence of different processing conditions causing various shear loads on layer adhesion for a two-layer co-extruded polymer sheet using a polypropylene and polypropylene talc compound system. Therefore, we varied the flow rates and the flow geometry of the die. Under specific conditions interfacial flow instabilities are triggered that form micro layers in the transition regime between the two layers causing a major increase in layer adhesion. This structure was analyzed using confocal Raman microscopy. Making use of these interfacial flow instabilities in a controlled way enables completely new opportunities and potentials for multi-layer products.
- Published
- 2022
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13. Development of a Rheology Die and Flow Characterization of Gas-Containing Polymer Melts.
- Author
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Kastner C, Altmann D, Kobler E, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
We present a novel measurement die for characterizing the flow behavior of gas-containing polymer melts. The die is mounted directly on the injection-molding cylinder in place of the mold cavity and thus enables near-process measurement of viscosity (i.e., under the conditions that would be present were a mold attached). This integration also resolves the issue of keeping gas-containing polymer melts under pressure during measurement to prevent desorption. After thermal characterization of the die, various correction approaches were compared against each other to identify the most suitable one for our case. We conducted measurements using polypropylene in combination with two different chemical blowing agents. Increasing the blowing-agent content to up to 6% revealed an interestingly low influence of gases on melt viscosity, which was confirmed by elongational viscosity measurements. For verification, we compared our results to corresponding measurements taken on a high-pressure capillary rheometer and found that they were in excellent agreement. Our die cannot only be used for rheological characterization. Combined with ultrasound sensors, it provides an innovative way of measuring the volumetric flow rate. This development represents an important step in improving the sustainability of gas-containing polymer processing.
- Published
- 2021
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14. In Situ Detection of Interfacial Flow Instabilities in Polymer Co-Extrusion Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Ultrasonic Techniques.
- Author
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Hammer A, Roland W, Zacher M, Praher B, Hannesschläger G, Löw-Baselli B, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
Co-extrusion is a widely used processing technique for combining various polymers with different properties into a tailored multilayer product. Individual melt streams are combined in a die to form the desired shape. Under certain conditions, interfacial flow instabilities are observed; however, fundamental knowledge about their onset and about critical conditions in science and industry is scarce. Since reliable identification of interfacial co-extrusion flow instabilities is essential for successful operation, this work presents in situ measurement approaches using a novel co-extrusion demonstrator die, which is fed by two separate melt streams that form a well-controlled two-layer co-extrusion polymer melt flow. An interchangeable cover allows installation of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensor and of an ultrasonic (US) measurement system, where the former requires an optical window and the latter good direct coupling with the cover for assessment of the flow situation. The feasibility of both approaches was proven for a material combination that is typically found in multilayer packaging applications. Based on the measurement signals, various parameters are proposed for distinguishing reliably between stable and unstable flow conditions in both measurement systems. The approaches presented are well suited to monitoring for and systematically investigating co-extrusion flow instabilities and, thus, contribute to improving the fundamental knowledge about instability onset and critical conditions.
- Published
- 2021
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15. A Simulation-Data-Based Machine Learning Model for Predicting Basic Parameter Settings of the Plasticizing Process in Injection Molding.
- Author
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Schmid M, Altmann D, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
The optimal machine settings in polymer processing are usually the result of time-consuming and expensive trials. We present a workflow that allows the basic machine settings for the plasticizing process in injection molding to be determined with the help of a simulation-driven machine learning model. Given the material, screw geometry, shot weight, and desired plasticizing time, the model is able to predict the back pressure and screw rotational speed required to achieve good melt quality. We show how data sets can be pre-processed in order to obtain a generalized model that performs well. Various supervised machine learning algorithms were compared, and the best approach was evaluated in experiments on a real machine using the predicted basic machine settings and three different materials. The neural network model that we trained generalized well with an overall absolute mean error of 0.27% and a standard deviation of 0.37% on unseen data (the test set). The experiments showed that the mean absolute errors between the real and desired plasticizing times were sufficiently small, and all predicted operating points achieved good melt quality. Our approach can provide the operators of injection molding machines with predictions of suitable initial operating points and, thus, reduce costs in the planning phase. Further, this approach gives insights into the factors that influence melt quality and can, therefore, increase our understanding of complex plasticizing processes.
- Published
- 2021
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16. Leakage-Flow Models for Screw Extruders.
- Author
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Marschik C, Roland W, Dörner M, Steinbichler G, and Schöppner V
- Abstract
Many theoretical analyses of extrusion ignore the effect of the flight clearance when predicting the pumping capability of a screw. This might be reasonable for conventional extruder screws with "normal" clearances but leads to errors when more advanced screw designs are considered. We present new leakage-flow models that allow the effect of the flight clearance to be included in the analysis of melt-conveying zones. Rather than directly correcting the drag and pressure flows, we derived regression models to predict locally the shear-thinning flow through the flight clearance. Using a hybrid modeling approach that includes analytical, numerical, and data-based modeling techniques enabled us to construct fast and accurate regressions for calculating flow rate and dissipation rate in the leakage gap. Using the novel regression models in combination with network theory, the new approximations consider the effect of the flight clearance in the predictions of pumping capability, power consumption and temperature development without modifying the equations for the down-channel flow. Unlike other approaches, our method is not limited to any specific screw designs or processing conditions.
- Published
- 2021
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17. Properties of Starve-Fed Extrusion on a Material Containing a VHMWPE Fraction.
- Author
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Rathner R, Tranchida D, Roland W, Ruemer F, Buchmann K, Amsüss P, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
Single-screw extruders are usually operated with the screw fully filled (flood-fed mode) and not partially filled (starve-fed mode). These modes result in completely different processing characteristics, and although starve-fed mode has been shown to have significant advantages, such as improved mixing and melting performance, it is rarely used, and experimental studies are scarce. Here, we present extensive experimental research into starve-fed extrusion at feeding rates as low as 25%. We compared various operating parameters (e.g., residence time, pressure build-up, and melting performance) at various feeding rates and screw speeds. The results show a first insight into the performance of starve-fed extruders compared to flood-fed extruders. We explored starve-fed extrusion of a polyethylene material which contains a Very High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fraction (VHMWPE). VHMWPE offers several advantages in terms of mechanical properties, but its high viscosity renders common continuous melt processes, such as compression molding, ram extrusion and sintering, ineffective. This work shows that operating single-screw extruders in extreme starve-fed mode significantly increases residence time, melt temperature, and improves melting and that-in combination-this results in significant elongation of VHMWPE particles.
- Published
- 2021
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18. Backpressure Optimization in Foam Injection Molding: Method and Assessment of Sustainability.
- Author
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Kastner C, Mitterlehner T, Altmann D, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
Inspired by the Industry 4.0 trend towards greater user-friendliness and self-optimization of machines, we present a novel approach to reducing backpressure in foam injection molding. Our method builds on the compressibility of polymer-gas mixtures to detect undissolved gas phases during processing at insufficient backpressures. Identification of a characteristic behavior of the bulk modulus upon transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous polymer-gas mixtures facilitated the determination of the minimum pressure required during production to be determined, as verified by ultrasound measurements. Optimization of the pressure conditions inside the barrel by means of our approach saves resources, making the process more sustainable. Our method yielded a 45% increase in plasticizing capacity, reduced the torque needed by 24%, and required 46% less plasticizing work and lower pressures in the gas supply chain. The components produced exhibited both improved mechanical bending properties and lower densities. From an economic point of view, the main advantages of optimized backpressures are reduced wear and lower energy consumption. The methodology presented in this study has considerable potential in terms of sustainable production and offers the prospect of fully autonomous process optimization.
- Published
- 2020
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19. Application of Network Analysis to Flow Systems with Alternating Wave Channels: Part B. (Superimposed Drag-Pressure Flows in Extrusion).
- Author
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Marschik C, Roland W, Dörner M, Schaufler S, Schöppner V, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
Due to progress in the development of screw designs over recent decades, numerous high-performance screws have become commercially available in single-screw extrusion. While some of these advanced designs have been studied intensively, others have received comparatively less attention. We developed and validated a semi-numerical network-theory-based modeling approach to predicting flows of shear-thinning polymer melts in wave-dispersion screws. In the first part (Part A), we systematically reduced the complexity of the flow analysis by omitting the influence of the screw rotation on the conveying behavior of the wave zone. In this part (Part B), we extended the original theory by considering the drag flow imposed by the screw. Two- and three-dimensional melt-conveying models were combined to predict locally the conveying characteristics of the wave channels in a discretized flow network. Extensive experiments were performed on a laboratory single-screw extruder, using various barrel designs and wave-dispersion screws. The predictions of our semi-numerical modeling approach for the axial pressure profile along the wave-dispersion zone accurately reproduce the experimental data. Removing the need for time-consuming numerical simulations, this modeling approach enables fast analyses of the conveying behavior of wave-dispersion zones, thereby offering a useful tool for design and optimization studies and process troubleshooting.
- Published
- 2020
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20. Development of an Analytical Model to Describe the Disperse Melting in Wave-Dispersion Screws.
- Author
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Dörner M, Marschik C, Schöppner V, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
The progressive development of new screw concepts in single screw extrusion also makes it necessary to develop new models for the correct process description. When looking at wave-dispersion screws, the disperse melting behavior should be mentioned in particular, which has so far been less researched and modeled than the conventional melting behavior, as it occurs in standard screws. Therefore, an analytical model is presented in this paper, which considers the disperse melting under consideration of the melt and solid temperature. The basic assumption is Fourier heat conduction from the melt surrounding the particles into the particles. Furthermore, the melt temperature development by dissipation and the cooling effects were modeled analytically. Additionally, the solid bed temperature was modeled by a 2D-FDM method. By dividing the screw into several calculation sections with constant boundary conditions, it was subsequently possible to calculate the melting process over the screw length. The model developed shows comprehensible results in verification and successfully reproduces the solids content over the screw length with a mean deviation of absolute 11% in validation tests using cooling/pulling-out experiments., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2020
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21. Application of Network Analysis to Flow Systems with Alternating Wave Channels: Part A (Pressure Flows).
- Author
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Marschik C, Dörner M, Roland W, Miethlinger J, Schöppner V, and Steinbichler G
- Abstract
Wave-dispersion screws have been used industrially in many types of extrusion processes, injection molding, and blow molding. These high-performance screws are constructed by replacing the metering section of a conventional screw with a melt-conveying zone consisting of two or more parallel flow channels that oscillate periodically in-depth over multiple cycles. With the barrier flight between the screw channels being selectively undercut, the molten resin is strategically forced to flow across the secondary flight, assuring repeated cross-channel mixing of the polymer melt. Despite the industrial relevance, very few scientific studies have investigated the flow in wave-dispersion sections in detail. As a result, current screw designs are often based on traditional trial-and-error procedures rather than on the principles of extrusion theory. This study, which was split into two parts, was carried out to systematically address this issue. The research reported here (Part A) was designed to reduce the complexity of the problem, exclusively analyzing the pressure-induced flows of polymer melts in wave sections. Ignoring the influence of the screw rotation on the conveying characteristics of the wave section, the results could be clearly assigned to the governing type of flow mechanism, thereby providing a better understanding of the underlying physics. Experimental studies were performed on a novel extrusion die equipped with a dual wave-channel system with alternating channel depth profiles. A seminumerical modeling approach based on network theory is proposed that locally describes the downchannel and cross-channel flows along the wave channels and accurately predicts the pressure distributions in the flow domain. The solutions of our seminumerical approach were, moreover, compared to the results of three-dimensional non-Newtonian CFD simulations. The results of this study will be extended to real screw designs in Part B, which will include the influence of the screw rotation in the flow analysis.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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22. Injection molding as a one-step process for the direct production of pharmaceutical dosage forms from primary powders.
- Author
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Eggenreich K, Windhab S, Schrank S, Treffer D, Juster H, Steinbichler G, Laske S, Koscher G, Roblegg E, and Khinast JG
- Subjects
- Drug Compounding methods, Drug Liberation, Fenofibrate chemistry, Powders, Tablets, Time Factors, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical methods, Drug Carriers chemistry, Fenofibrate administration & dosage, Polyethylene Glycols chemistry, Polyvinyls chemistry
- Abstract
The objective of the present study was to develop a one-step process for the production of tablets directly from primary powder by means of injection molding (IM), to create solid-dispersion based tablets. Fenofibrate was used as the model API, a polyvinyl caprolactame-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft co-polymer served as a matrix system. Formulations were injection-molded into tablets using state-of-the-art IM equipment. The resulting tablets were physico-chemically characterized and the drug release kinetics and mechanism were determined. Comparison tablets were produced, either directly from powder or from pre-processed pellets prepared via hot melt extrusion (HME). The content of the model drug in the formulations was 10% (w/w), 20% (w/w) and 30% (w/w), respectively. After 120min, both powder-based and pellet-based injection-molded tablets exhibited a drug release of 60% independent of the processing route. Content uniformity analysis demonstrated that the model drug was homogeneously distributed. Moreover, analysis of single dose uniformity also revealed geometric drug homogeneity between tablets of one shot., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Improvement of image quality of multislice spiral CT scans of the head and neck region using a raw data-based multidimensional adaptive filtering (MAF) technique.
- Author
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Baum U, Anders K, Steinbichler G, Lell M, Greess H, Riedel T, Kachelriess M, Kalender WA, and Bautz WA
- Subjects
- Adipose Tissue diagnostic imaging, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Algorithms, Artifacts, Carotid Arteries diagnostic imaging, Contrast Media, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neck diagnostic imaging, Neck Muscles diagnostic imaging, Spinal Canal diagnostic imaging, Thyroid Gland diagnostic imaging, Head and Neck Neoplasms diagnostic imaging, Image Enhancement methods, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted methods, Iohexol analogs & derivatives, Tomography, Spiral Computed methods
- Abstract
The purpose was to evaluate the potential of the multidimensional adaptive filtering (MAF) technique by investigating its effects on image noise and image quality in multislice spiral CT (MSCT) examinations of the head and neck region. Fifty patients with head and neck tumors were examined using MSCT with a high resolution protocol. Reconstructions were performed using dedicated reconstruction software with a standard algorithm both without and with MAF using different modification. In all reconstructions, we measured the noise in seven different anatomical structures. The image quality and image noise were rated on a five-point scale. There was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in mean pixel noise in the reconstructions using MAF in comparison to the standard reconstructions, but there was no significant difference between the different modification fractions. With MAF the mean reduction in noise level was 60%, depending upon body shape and anatomical region. Independently from the used modification fraction, MAF led to a significant (P<0.05) improvement of image quality. In direct comparison of the different filter strength, the optimal image quality was achieved in the investigations with 15% MAF. The use of MAF facilitates the distinction of anatomical and pathological structures from artifacts in the supraclavicular fossae and the upper mediastinum, whereas the image quality of the upper portions of the neck remained unchanged. MAF improved image quality by reducing the noise level and removing noise structures without loss of image sharpness. This technique offers new perspectives to reduce the patient dose., (Copyright 2004 Springer-Verlag)
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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