Plastics production comprises the main process steps "synthesis (reaction)", "preparation/compounding" at the raw material manufacturer and compounder, and "processing" (shaping into semi-finished or finished products). In this handbook, the central middle step, preparation and compounding, is discussed. The preparation tasks include the removal of components, the incorporation of additives, and the change of particle size. Compounding is the incorporation of additives into a polymer or plastic. The process engineering fundamentals and the specific equipment and machines used are described. The specialist authors impart their knowledge from the fields of research, polymer production, and equipment/machine production with applications in plastics technology.

Polymer compounding plays an important role in the successful use of polymers. It helps to extend the properties of polymers such as durability, stiffness or thermal resistance so that these properties can be incorporated into an improved end-product. Several thousand of compounds currently used incorporate additives such as antioxidants, fillers or lubricants. Innovation is an essential element in polymer compounding with respect to the manufacture of increasingly sophisticated products such as polymer blends and composites. This book gives an idea of the productive area of polymer compounding.Volume 2 focusses on manufacturing technology and processing and provides an overview of the basic and fundamental aspects of polymer compounding. This volume should interest students, scientists and engineers, and constitutes a reference text for the experimental polymer technologist.Written in a simple and accurate style this book can be understood even by the reader who is not familiar with polymer compounding. The book is also very informative and helps give an overall view of compounding. The figures are well organised with technical and economic considerations, as well as consideration of the problems associated with polymer compounding. Therefore, the book is distinctly quantitative in nature and designed to inspire a large audience of industrial and academic polymer scientists interested in the technology of polymer compounding.

Finally available again in its second edition, this classic covers everything from the basic principles to the various practical applications of state-of-the-art mixing and compounding. Part I: Mechanisms and Theory Basic Concepts - Mixing of Miscible Fluids - Mixing of Immiscible Fluids - Dispersive Mixing of Solid Additives - Distributive Mixing - Distribution Functions and Measures of Mixing Part II: Mixing Equipment - Modeling, Simulation, Visualization Batch Equipment Simulation - Batch Equipment Visualization - Continuous Equipment Simulation - Dispersive Mixing Devices in Single Screw - Twin Rotor Mixers - Co-Kneader - Visualization - Scale-up of Mixing Equipment - Scale-down of Mixing Equipment Part III Material Consideration, Properties and Characterization Solid additives (inorganic) - Solid additives (organic) - Compatibilizers (mechanisms, theory) - Material Consideration for Mixing at Nanoscale - Effect of Mixing on Properties of Compounds - Effect of Mixing on Rubber Properties Part IV Mixing Practices Internal Mixers - Single Screw Extruders - Twin Screw Extruders - Intermeshing Twin Screw Extruders - Reciprocating Screws - Reactive Compounding - Farrel Continuous Mixer

The objectives of this handbook are to present a comprehensive, balanced treatment of the various types of equipment commercially available and to describe what happens to a polymer as it passes through the equipment from feed to pelletization.

Thoroughly revised edition of the classic text on polymer processing The Second Edition brings the classic text on polymer processing thoroughly up to date with the latest fundamental developments in polymer processing, while retaining the critically acclaimed approach of the First Edition. Readers are provided with the complete panorama of polymer processing, starting with fundamental concepts through the latest current industry practices and future directions. All the chapters have been revised and updated, and four new chapters have been added to introduce the latest developments. Readers familiar with the First Edition will discover a host of new material, including: * Blend and alloy microstructuring * Twin screw-based melting and chaotic mixing mechanisms * Reactive processing * Devolatilization--theory, mechanisms, and industrial practice * Compounding--theory and industrial practice * The increasingly important role of computational fluid mechanics * A systematic approach to machine configuration design The Second Edition expands on the unique approach that distinguishes it from comparative texts. Rather than focus on specific processing methods, the authors assert that polymers have a similar experience in any processing machine and that these experiences can be described by a set of elementary processing steps that prepare the polymer for any of the shaping methods. On the other hand, the authors do emphasize the unique features of particular polymer processing methods and machines, including the particular elementary step and shaping mechanisms and geometrical solutions. Replete with problem sets and a solutions manual for instructors, this textbook is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students in chemical engineering and polymer and materials engineering and science. It will also prove invaluable for industry professionals as a fundamental polymer processing analysis and synthesis reference.

Polymer science is fundamentally interdisciplinary, yet specialists in one aspect, such as chemistry or processing, frequently encounter difficulties in understanding the effects of other disciplines on their own. This book describes clearly how polymer chemistry and polymer processing interact to affect polymer properties. As such, specialists in both disciplines can gain a deeper understanding of how these subjects underpin each other. Coverage includes step-by-step introductions to polymer processing technologies; details of fluid flow and heat transfer behaviour; shaping methods and physical processes during cooking and curing, and analyses of moulding and extrusion processes.

Fundamental concepts coupled with practical, step-by-step guidance With its emphasis on core principles, this text equips readers with the skills and knowledge to design the many processes needed to safely and successfully manufacture thermoplastic parts. The first half of the text sets forth the general theory and concepts underlying polymer processing, such as the viscoelastic response of polymeric fluids and diffusion and mass transfer. Next, the text explores specific practical aspects of polymer processing, including mixing, extrusion dies, and post-die processing. By addressing a broad range of design issues and methods, the authors demonstrate how to solve most common processing problems. This Second Edition of the highly acclaimed Polymer Processing has been thoroughly updated to reflect current polymer processing issues and practices. New areas of coverage include: Micro-injection molding to produce objects weighing a fraction of a gram, such as miniature gears and biomedical devices New chapter dedicated to the recycling of thermoplastics and the processing of renewable polymers Life-cycle assessment, a systematic method for determining whether recycling is appropriate and which form of recycling is optimal Rheology of polymers containing fibers Chapters feature problem sets, enabling readers to assess and reinforce their knowledge as they progress through the text. There are also special design problems throughout the text that reflect real-world polymer processing issues. A companion website features numerical subroutines as well as guidance for using MATLAB®, IMSL®, and Excel to solve the sample problems from the text. By providing both underlying theory and practical step-by-step guidance, Polymer Processing is recommended for students in chemical, mechanical, materials, and polymer engineering.

Polymer Compounding, Volume 1 focuses on aspects of the raw materials used in polymer processing. Polymer compounding comprises a complex heterogeneous system of polymers and other ingredients and, in many ways, the preparation of these materials is still very much an art. It is a powerful tool that will eventually be required as one of the basics of polymer processing. This book provides readers with a wide array of state-of-the-art strategies to develop their knowledge about compounding and the use of polymers while minimising wastage during processing. Details about polymer properties and additives are assembled to provide a one-source repository for compounding. Another important point to be considered in the book is the combination of polymers and additives and the essentials required for the development of economic and environmental incentives in polymer processing. This book will encourage further studies to understand the scientifically challenging polymer processing issues arising during the manufacture of parts for end-use applications. Finally, this volume presents an overview of polymer compounding requirements, as well as an idea of some of the future directions, advances andchallenges of polymer processing.