This Rapra Review Report looks at the major applications of polymers in automotives, (excluding tyres), and describes the reasons behind their adoption and development, with many examples drawn from the European, US and Japanese car industries. The review and the 395 abstracts provided from the Rapra Polymer Library database refer primarily to developments since 1987.

Automotive Plastics and Composites: Materials and Processing is an essential guide to the use of plastic and polymer composites in automotive applications, whether in the exterior, interior, under-the-hood, or powertrain, with a focus on materials, properties, and processing. The book begins by introducing plastics and polymers for the automotive industry, discussing polymer materials and structures, mechanical, chemical, and physical properties, rheology, and flow analysis. In the second part of the book, each chapter is dedicated to a category of material, and considers the manufacture, processing, properties, shrinkage, and possible applications, in each case. Two chapters on polymer processing provide detailed information on both closed-mold and open-mold processing. The final chapters explain other key aspects, such as recycling and sustainability, design principles, tooling, and future trends. This book is an ideal reference for plastics engineers, product designers, technicians, scientists, and R&D professionals who are looking to develop materials, components, or products for automotive applications. The book also intends to guide researchers, scientists, and advanced students in plastics engineering, polymer processing, and materials science and engineering. - Analyzes mechanical, chemical, physical, and thermal properties, enabling the reader to select the appropriate material for specific applications - Explains polymer processing, with thorough coverage of operations across both closed-mold and open-mold processing - Provides systematic coverage of materials, including commodity and engineering thermoplastics, bio-based plastics, thermosets, composites, elastomeric polymers, and 3D-printed plastics

This report focuses on in-line cure monitoring as a key way of optimising production. The bulk of this review is devoted to coverage of the range of techniques used for cure monitoring. Consideration is also given to other topics relevant to the implementation of cure monitoring processes. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.

This is an overview of particulate filler production and use. Each filler type has different properties and these in turn are influenced by the particle size, shape and surface chemistry. Filler characteristics are discussed from costs to particle morphology. Practical aspects of filler grading are described and the principal filler types are outlined. Filler surface modification is an important topic. The main types of modifying agent and their uses are described, from fatty acids to functionalised polymers. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.

SCFs are currently the subjects of intense research and commercial interest. Applications such as the RESS (rapid expansion of supercritical fluid solutions) process are part of standard industrial practice. In view of their ever-growing importance in the polymer industry there is a need to fully comprehend how supercritical fluids interrelate with polymeric materials to realise the potential that can be gained from their use. The authors review the basic principles of SCFs and their application within the polymer industry: characteristics and properties, extraction of unwanted residual products, polymerisation solvents, and polymer impregnation. Processing applications such as plasticisation, foaming and blending are also considered. There is discussion of the potential within the polymer recycling industry for use of SCFs as cleaning agents or within supercritical oxidation processes. Around 400 references with abstracts from recent global literature accompany this review, sourced from the Polymer Library, to facilitate further reading. A subject index and a company index are included.

This review describes the synthesis of polymeric precursors for silicon carbide, silicon carbonitride and silicon nitride ceramics, and looks at the properties of the resulting fibres. Alumina, boron nitride and boron carbide precursors are also considered. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database provides useful references for further reading.

This review sets out to describe the types of flame retardants available for compounding into plastics materials, mechanisms of action and uses. This review provides a clear overview of the state-of-the-art of flame retardancy for plastics. It highlights the new developments and the potential problems with legislation, together with the benefits to end users of protection from fire hazards. This review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from papers and books in the Rapra Polymer Library.

At a time when it is critical to many plastics processors to add value to products, colorants are an essential part of the additives repertoire. Plastics are often processed at very high temperatures and shear, and products are exposed to heat and light. Colorants must tolerate these conditions to function adequately. This Rapra Review Report provides practical information for plastics processors with regard to colorant selection and the range of products and effects available. The review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database, to facilitate further reading on this subject.

This report outlines the key issues regarding emissions from plastics. The report covers emissions from plastics during processing, treatment, storage and end-use. It summarises the published research on a wide variety of materials and settings. New methods of analysis and testing have been developed or adapted to examine these emissions. This report discusses the main techniques used. Data from analysis work on air quality and emissions from plastics is also included in this report. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.