In this paper, we compare different nanoclay-PEG composites and the influence of the input parameters especially the percentage of PEG and the clay size. Because of the facility of material elaboration, dried state with grinding, we adopted a complete experiments plan to obtain a maximum of robustness of the responses. For each sample, we made an XRD analysis to see if we obtain the intercalation of the PEG 6000 (Polyethylene Glycol 6000) within the clay sheets. The characterization adopted consists on the measurement of the shrinking of some cylinders we made, the liquidity and plasticity limits according to the Casagrande protocol used in geotechnical clays characterizations. We utilize also the methylen blue protocol to estimate the variation of the specific surface of ionic exchange of the clay sheets according to the PEG 6000 percentage and the clay sizes. SEM microscopy permits to visualize some of the phases detected by the XRD analysis. The TEM microscopy permits also to see the amorphous phases created by the grinding protocol which affects significantly the specific surface and the shrinking of the new materials. For each section, we made some conclusions with interpretation in order to integrate these results in civil engineering, classical/artisanal material construction and geotechnical fields.

The dependence of the induced morphological layer variations on the processing conditions and parameters during injection molding of polymers is analyzed through a robust numerical framework of the complete microinjection molding cycle. Predicted temperature, heat transfer and viscous dissipation, spherulite diameters, and shear rates provide sufficient clarifications to develop a deeper understanding of the complex evolution of the induced thicknesses of layers. The evolution of the structure of polyoxymethylene (POM) under strong strain rates and high thermal gradients is investigated while flowing along an expanding flow configuration composed of three steps of increasing thickness. High and low mold temperatures and injection velocity levels are tested according to the design of the experiment method (DOE). Morphological development in each zone was examined to provide the induced crystalline layer thickness in the longitudinal as well as the transverse directions using polarized light microscopy (PLM). The thickness of the layers strongly depends on the local thickness of the stepped‐part and on the abrupt dimensional changes. The variation of bulk tensile properties obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is related to the thermomechanical history experienced by the melt.

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A mathematical model coupled with a numerical investigation of the evolving material properties due to thermal and flow effects and in particular the evolution of the crystallinity during the full microinjection molding cycle of poly (oxymethylene) POM is presented using a multi‐scale approach. A parametric analysis is performed, including all the steps of the process using an asymmetrical stepped contracting part. The velocity and temperature fields are discussed. A parabolic distribution of the velocity across the part thickness, and a temperature rise in the thin zone toward the wall have been obtained. It is attributed to the viscous energy dissipation during the filling phase, but also to the involved characteristic times for the thermal behavior of the material. Depending on the molding conditions and the locations within the micro‐part, different evolution of crystallization rates are obtained leading to at least three to five morphological layers, obtained in the same part configuration of a previously work, allowing a clear understanding of the process‐material interaction.