Polymer Processing

It can be stated with some justification that polymers, because of their mainly synthetic origins, are important because of their applications, perhaps more than in the case of more familiar and conventional materials such as metals and wood, which would exist apart from their use in human activities. The majority of polymers have been synthesized under the impetus of requirements for new and improved properties. The preparative routes to new polymers and blends, and the exploration of their structures and properties constitute absorbing subjects for study, but it is the final application of these materials in real, commercial products that provides the driving force for such developments. In recent years a number of excellent books have appeared which deal with the chemistry, structure, properties and engineering aspects of polymers. The processing of polymers, as products of the chemical industry, into engineering and consumer goods has received much less attention. There are some valuable texts for individual processes, especially the extrusion and injection moulding of thermoplastics, but others are less well served. This book provided a review of all the important processing routes for transforming polymers into products.

Texte du rabat

This is a comprehensive account of the processing of polymer materials, dealing with rubber, composites and thermoplastics as well as the thermosets.

Contenu
1 The nature and origins of polymers.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Nature of polymers.- 1.3 Basic chemical types.- 1.4 Morphology.- 1.5 Physical properties.- 1.6 Origins of polymers.- Reference and Further reading.- 2 The physical basis of polymer processing.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Liquids and viscosity.- 2.3 Viscosity and polymer processing.- 2.4 Other properties of fluids.- 2.5 Shear stresses in polymer systems.- 2.6 Non-Newtonian flow.- 2.7 Practical melt viscosities.- 2.8 Flow in channels.- 2.9 Melt flow index.- 2.10 Melting of polymers.- 2.11 Liquid to solid.- References and Further reading.- 3 Mixing.- 3.1 Polymers and additives.- 3.2 Physical form of polymer mixes.- 3.3 Types of mixing process.- 3.4 Some processes and machines.- 3.5 Some relationships in mixing.- Further reading.- 4 Extrusion.- 4.1 What is extrusion?.- 4.2 Features of a single screw extruder.- 4.3 Flow mechanisms.- 4.4 Analysis of flow.- 4.5 Some aspects of screw design.- 4.6 Twin screw extruders.- 4.7 Extruder and die characteristics.- 4.8 The extrusion die.- References and Further reading.- 5 Extrusion-based processes.- 5.1 Profile extrusion.- 5.2 Cross-head extrusion.- 5.3 Orientation in pipes and hoses.- 5.4 Orientation and crystallization.- 5.5 Tubular blown film.- 5.6 Other film and sheet processes.- 5.7 Synthetic fibres.- 5.8 Netting.- 5.9 Co-extrusion.- Reference.- 6 Blow moulding.- 6.1 Blow moulding principles.- 6.2 Extrusion blow moulding.- 6.3 Injection blow moulding.- 6.4 Why PET and why stretch-blow?.- Reference.- 7 Thermoforming.- 7.1 Principles.- 7.2 Vacuum forming.- 7.3 Material stress and orientation.- 7.4 Applications.- 7.5 Materials.- Reference.- 8 Injection moulding.- 8.1 Principles.- 8.2 The moulding cycle.- 8.3 The injection moulding machine.- 8.4 The polypropylene hinge-a studyin gating.- 8.5 Some aspects of product quality.- 8.6 Sprueless moulding.- 8.7 Newer developments.- References.- Further reading.- 9 Compression and transfer moulding.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Thermosetting compounds.- 9.3 Compression moulding process.- 9.4 Transfer moulding.- References.- 10 Polymers in the rubbery state.- 10.1 The rubbery state.- 10.2 The calendering process.- 11 Rubber technology.- 11.1 Types of rubber.- 11.2 Production of rubber.- 11.3 Vulcanizing.- 11.4 Fillers.- 11.5 Processing methods.- 11.6 Testing.- 11.7 Thermoplastic elastomers.- References.- 12 Fibre reinforced plastics.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Materials.- 12.3 Mechanical strength of fibre reinforced composites.- 12.4 The hand lay-up process.- 12.5 Sheet moulding compound (SMC).- 12.6 Hand lay-up and SMC compared.- 12.7 Dough moulding compound.- 12.8 Process variants.- 12.9 Newer developments using thermosets.- 12.10 Glass mat thermoplastics.- 12.11 Moulding variants.- References.- 13 Rotational moulding and sintering.- 13.1 Evolution.- 13.2 PVC slush moulding.- 13.3 Powdered polymers.- 13.4 Comparison of rotational and injection moulding.- Reference.- 14 PVC and plastisols.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).- 14.3 Plasticizers.- 14.4 Fillers.- 14.5 Stabilizers.- 14.6 Blowing agents.- 14.7 Substrates.- 14.8 Formulation.- 14.9 Processing.- 14.10 Chemical embossing.- 14.11 The plastigel process.