Please consider attending the following: MATERIALS ENGINEERING SEMINAR "Effects of Processing on the Morphology and Structure of Thermoplastic Polymer and Composite Systems" By Jessica Lavorata Purdue MSE Preliminary Exam Advisor: Professor Jan Anders Mansson ABSTRACT Polymer systems that withstand high-rate solidification experience dimensional instabilities that cause residual stresses, defects, and premature failure. The purpose of this paper is to present the major processing parameters that affect solidification and how these parameters control the material's morphology in both pure polymer and polymer-composite systems. During injection molding and extrusion, processing parameters such as cooling rate, pressure, thermo-mechanical, and thermo-rheological histories are presented and related to material properties such as crystallinity, modulus, and strength. The morphology and structure of polymers is also examined and correlated to processing conditions. The discussion continues by exploring how an understanding on polymer solidification can extend to the solidification behavior of fiber-reinforced composites. In these composites, defects such as voids, cracks, fiber buckling, and complete part distortion which compromises the overall integrity of the final part are reviewed and related back to the initial processing conditions. Date: Thursday, October 31, 2019 Time: 12:30 P.M. Place: IMI 127