Product development process is a complex process and also decision-making process, which is not related only to product design but to all phases of product's life cycle. Material selection within design process is of great importance as preliminary material selection in early stages of design influences activities to follow and define the impact that product has on the environment through its life cycle. Young and inexperienced designers as well as small and medium sized enterprises are often in arduous position as they face dilemmas in decision-making due to lack of experience consequentially resulting as a bad design or hiring an expert. Product’s environmental impact is defined with various ecological parameters, which could be controlled in material selection process. Recyclability is one of problematic ecological parameters for polymer materials as their recycle fracture in current supply is quite low in comparison to other materials. Negative human influence on the environment and exploitation of non-renewable resources are pointing out the importance of sustainable development. Intelligent decision support system model for polymer material selection considering environmental impact developed and presented in this doctoral thesis is an original contribution to scientific society. Moreover, system model is computer support for designing environment-friendly polymer products in engineering practise.
F.09 Development of a new technological process or technology
COBISS.SI-ID: 262505728The invention is in the field of scanning electron microscopy and quality control of polymeric nanocomposite coatings. Solves the problem of sample preparation for the analysis of very thin polymer coatings thicker than 0.5 um, which are mixed in a very small particle diameter size from 10 nm to 100 nm, the so-called nanoparticles, the method of scanning electron microscopy. The process used mounting conductive metal foil, which, together with the coatings placed in liquid nitrogen. Thicker coatings separated from film, fragile and broken analyzed. Thin coating of 3 micron does not distinguish from film, but only break brittle. In both cases, we are use the holder that allows pressure coating on both sides and stand up of the fracture surface.
F.33 Slovenian patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 16318230Supercritical CO2 was studied both as plasticizer for polylactic acid and as mixing environment for obtaining composite materials with hydroxyapatite. The solubility and diffusivity of CO2 in polylactic acid and polylactic acid - hydroxyapatite composite materials were experimentally determined using a magnetic suspension balance. The results suggest that the supercritical CO2 could be used as a ‘green’ processing agent for polylactic acid and its composite materials when organic solvents or high temperatures should be avoided.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
COBISS.SI-ID: 16054294