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Processing-Dependent Parameters: Structure and Morphology of Polymeric Materials

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Polymers on the Crime Scene

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Abstract

Processing is the mix of operations which are applied to materials when objects are made. A whole branch of engineering deals with the design of viable solutions to all the problems which can arise in the transformation of polymers. With a maybe rough approximation, it can be said that processing consists in the transfer of mechanical or thermal energy to the polymer, with the aim of mixing it with other substances and of shaping it in the desired final form. Processing is rarely mild, because the quest for maximisation of industrial production imposes the conditions which minimise the manufacturing time and which often correspond to high temperatures and shear forces. The polymer thus suffers a relevant mechanical and thermal stress, which is the main driving force determining the structure of the material in the solid state. The reason why this should be of interest to the forensic scientist is that processing-dependent parameters contain information extremely indicative of the manufacturer.

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  1. Università di Padova, Padova, Italy

    Valerio Causin

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  1. Valerio Causin
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Causin, V. (2015). Processing-Dependent Parameters: Structure and Morphology of Polymeric Materials. In: Polymers on the Crime Scene. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15494-7_7

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