This study documents skull fracture characteristics on infant porcine specimens under known impact conditions with respect to age and interface. A single impact causing fracture was conducted on the skull of porcine specimens aged 2-28 days (n = 76). Paired rigid and compliant impacts at the same energy were conducted at each specimen age. Impact force, impact duration, and fracture length were recorded. Energy required to initiate skull fracture increased with specimen age. For a given energy, impact of the skull with a compliant interface caused more fracture damage than with a rigid interface for specimens aged under 17 days, but less damage for specimens aged 24-28 days. The documentation of energy required to cause fracture and resulting fracture propagation with respect to impact interface and age may be of critical importance in forensic investigations of infant skull trauma.

The objective of this work was to investigate the property enhancement of polypropylene compounds due to glass fiber reinforcement at various levels. General trends in properties, performance and application were carefully established and surveyed. Second generation metallocene‐based glass fiber reinforced polypropylene compounds were also studied in terms of their “property‐performance” characteristic and compared to the original series. Addition of nylon to glass fiber reinforced polypropylene compounds was investigated as a further possible avenue for creating a new family of polymer alloys. Comparisons of properties, advantages, and applications were made.

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This paper will cover the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of a new polycarbonate alloy. The unreinforced and glass fiber reinforced properties of the polycarbonate alloy will be compared to conventional polycarbonate. The relatively similar physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the two resin systems will be discussed as well as similarities in injection molding characteristics. Potential and existing applications and markets for this product will be covered detailing economic incentives for using the polycarbonate alloy.

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