Photos

Melting PLA Pellets (05/04/12)

(Click photos for larger images)

 

Masking off the shape of our sheet

Masking off the shape of our sheet

Measuring and cutting the tape

Measuring and cutting the tape

Scientist

Ensuring the mold is water-tight

Ensuring the mold is water-tight

Ensuring the mold is water-tight

Water does not escape the mold

Weighing the exact amount of PLA we need

Weighing the exact amount of PLA we need

Weighing the exact amount of PLA we need

Weighing the exact amount of PLA we need

Weighing the exact amount of PLA we need

Weighing the exact amount of PLA we need

The mass we calculated to create a 1mm sheet 

Putting the PLA and mold into the oven

After 180 minutes of heat, nothing happened 

Melting PLA Pellets (05/09/12)

 Melting PLA on a plate

 The PLA was fed through a planer

 Manufacturing PLA Sheets Using a Heat Press (05/14/12)

 Setting heat press plates to 220 degrees Celsius

 Applying pressure to heat plates

 Scientist

 Unwrapping PLA sheets (removing foil)

 Unwrapping PLA sheets (removing foil)

 PLA sheet (first attempt)

  PLA sheet (first attempt)

  PLA sheet (first attempt)

 PLA sheet (unwrapped)

 Heat fluctuated slightly between plates

 Placing second PLA sheet into heat press (attempt two)

 Sheet two (unwrapped)

Taking notes and recording measurements 

PLA Sheets

PLA Sheets with Flax Fibers
(Percents (#.##%) are percent of flax in relation to mass of PLA sheets)

 Control Sheet #1:  0.600 mm thick

 Control Sheet #2:  1.00 mm thick

 Trial Sheet:  7.20 g of PLA / 0.720 g of flax (10.0%)

 

 Composite #1:  Sheets 2 & 3 (2.50%)

 Composite #2:  Sheets 5 & 8 (5.00%)

 Composite #3:  Sheets 1 & 7 (7.50%)

 Composite #4:  Sheets 6 & 9 (10.0%)

Viewing PLA/Flax Composite

PLA/flax composite viewed under a microscope

(with the black area representing the flax fibers)