This book bridges the technology and business aspects of thermoplastics, providing a guide designed for engineers working in real-world industrial settings. The author explores the criteria for material selection, provides a detailed guide to each family of thermoplastics, and also explains the various processing options for each material type. More than 30 families of thermoplastics are described with information on their advantages and drawbacks, special grades, prices, transformation processes, applications, thermal behaviour, technological properties (tenacity, friction, dimensional stability), durability (ageing, creep, fatigue), chemical and fire behaviour, electrical properties, and joining possibilities. Biron explores the technological properties and economics of the major thermoplastics and reinforced thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, and emerging polymers such as polybenzimidazole, Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) and bioplastics. In the second edition, a new section 'plastics solutions for practical problems' provides over 25 case studies illustrating a wide range of design and production challenges across the spectrum of thermoplastics, from metal and glass replacement solutions, to fire retardant plastics and antimicrobials. In addition, Biron provides major new material on bioplastics and wood plastic composites (WPCs), and fully updated data throughout. Combining materials data, information on processing techniques, and economic aspects (pricing), Biron provides a unique end-to-end approach to the selection and use of materials in the plastics industry and related sectors Includes a new section of case studies, illustrating best practice across a wide range of applications and industry sectors New material on bioplastics and sustainable composites

Thermoplastics represent appx 90% by weight of all plastics consumed world-wide. We know them mainly in the form of polythenes, polyolefins, polystyrenes, nylons and acrylics. Under different heating conditions and by varying the composition of the plastic it is possible to make many different products with differing properties.This is a decision-making tool and source-book of information for plastics users, providing detailed accounts of the materials used, their economics,the selection of appropriate materials, and the use of thermoplastic resins and their composites. By having this book to hand, you will use the right material in the right way to produce the right product.·Provides a quick and pragmatic approach to selecting thermoplastics for the non-specialist plastics user·Offers detailed accounts of thermoplastics including economic and technological elements·Clear and easy to understand illustrated with figures, tables and graphs throughout

The overall aim of this book is to aid the process of sourcing and selecting appropriate thermoplastic polymers. There are now a wide diversity of thermoplastics offered for commercial uses. At one end of the range are the high-volume commodity materials for short life consumer applications. Whereas at the other end are the high value engineering materials; with significant levels of mechanical, physical and electrical performance. Within this publication, the generic groups of thermoplastics can be identified, along with their respective attributes and limitations. All thermoplastics are available in different grades. The constituents selected to form a grade are chosen to modify aspects of material behaviour, both during processing and in the final moulded form. The directory addresses materials which can be obtained in granular, powder or paste form for subsequent processing. Information is not provided directly on semi-finished product forms, such as films, fibres, sheet or profiles, other than when inferred from the processing descriptions of specified grades. The directory covers virgin or compounded material. It does not specifically address reclaimed or recycled grades. Data is provided for the mechanical and physical properties of moulded grades as processed by the route intended by the primary manufacturer (M) or compounder (C). Material grades can be obtained from a number of sources; either the original polymer manufacturer or a recognised compounder who produces a range of grades.

Thermoplastic Material Selection: A Practical Guide presents current information on how proper material selection is a critical component of any manufactured product. The text is a practical guide to a difficult process, giving the reader a fundamental grounding in thermoplastic materials and providing the tools they need to save time, money, and frustration. The book provides an overview of the most commonly used thermoplastic materials, including discussions of the different chemical families, plastics categories, and material grades - and the implications of these differences on the material selection process. It provides fresh insights on the traditional methods of material selection based on performance and cost, and also discusses the use of non-traditional methods based on subjective evaluation. Subsequent sections include references on tools that can be used to conduct further exploration, how to accurately select the most suitable material, writing an effective material specification, and working with material suppliers and distributors. - Presents current information on how proper thermoplastics material selection is a critical component of any manufactured product - A practical guide to a difficult process, giving the reader a fundamental grounding in thermoplastics material selection and providing the tools they need to save time, money, and frustration - Delivers insights on the traditional methods of material selection based on performance and cost, and introduces nontraditional methods based on size, form, appearance, and feel

This text offers a detailed presentation of thermoplastic materials that are commercially available for the plastics and polymer industries. It discusses chemical structure-property relationships and various categories of thermoplastic resins, including general purpose/commodity, quasicommodity, engineering, and specialty. Some of the thermoplastics covered include polycarbonate, nylon, ABS, and PMMA. Using a process-oriented format, the author explores application areas of thermoplastics to elucidate the interrelation and effect of processing on the properties and performance of these materials.

As new applications are developed and plastics replace traditional materials in a widening spectrum of existing applications, the potential personal injury, property damage, financial and legal consequences of failure can be high. However, nearly half of plastics failure can be traced back to the original specification and selection of the material. This book gives engineers the data they need to make an informed decision about the materials they use in their products, imparting a thorough knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the various materials to choose from. The data also suggests other candidate materials which the reader may not have originally considered. More than 30,000 thermoplastics grades are grouped into circa. 300 subfamilies, within which over 20 properties are assessed. The abundance or scarcity of a material and its cost are also often important deciding factors. In this book, an economical overview of the plastics industry helps clarify the actual consumption and costs of thermoplastics including bioplastic, and the relationship of cost vs. performance is also examined for each thermoplastic subfamily. Immediate and long-term common properties are reviewed, including mechanical behavior, impact, thermal properties, and many more. Environmental considerations are also covered, including ease of recycling and sustainability. - Helps engineers to implement a systematic approach to material selection in their work - Includes more than 300 subfamilies of thermoplastic, and a wide range of properties including chemical resistance, thermal degradation, creep and UV resistance - Evaluates cost/performance relations and environmental considerations

Chemical Resistance of Commodity Thermoplastics provides a comprehensive, cross-referenced compilation of chemical resistance data that explains the effect of thousands of reagents, the environment and other exposure media on the properties and characteristics of commodity thermoplastics – plastics which are generally used in higher performance applications. A huge range of exposure media are included, from aircraft fuel to alcohol, corn syrup to hydrochloric acid, and salt to silver acetate. This information has been substantially updated, curated, and organized by the engineers at M-Base Engineering + Software, a leading supplier of material databases, material information systems, product information systems, and material related simulation software. This book is a must-have reference for engineers and scientists designing and working with plastics and elastomers in environments where they come into contact with corrosive or reactive substances, from food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, to the automotive, aerospace, and semiconductor industries. - Explains the effect of thousands of reagents, the environment and other exposure media on the properties and characteristics of commodity thermoplastics - Organized by the engineers at M-Base Engineering + Software, a leading supplier of material databases, material information systems, product information systems, and material related simulation software - A must-have reference for engineers and scientists designing and working with plastics and elastomers in environments where they come into contact with corrosive or reactive substances

This timely reference fills a large void in the range of information on engineering thermoplastics. It is the only comprehensive data source to examine the benefits and applications of major, high-performance engineering thermoplastics. Organized into separate chapters for each specific type of plastic, Engineering Thermoplastics thoroughly details the properties, advantages, and applications of each thermoplastic, facilitating comparisons between different types ... addresses subjects, such as the selection of the proper thermoplastic for each individual application, which are current and important to both research and commercial development ... provides you with the "inside" information and expertise of contributors who represent the leading plastics manufacturers. This authoritative volume -- edited by an expert with 25 years of industry and consulting experience -- is mandatory reading for plastics, design, materials, chemical, and mechanical engineers and managers in plastics, resins, and metals industries; automotive, appliance, electronics, building products, and related manufacturing industries; and organic and polymer chemists. The book is also ideal reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate plastics engineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering students. Book jacket.

Recent developments in high performance thermoplastic resins and their composites are described in this book, and the benefits and limitations of these emerging materials are assessed for aerospace and other applications. Discussions on the performance of neat and continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic resins in terms of their properties and environmental and chemical resistance are provided.