SPE Library

The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.

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Conference Proceedings

NITRILE RUBBER-BASED NANOCOMPOSITES PREPARED BY LATEX COMPOUNDING OF POSS MODIFIED CLAY

Elana C. Lewis, Sarah E. Morgan, May 2012

Nanocomposites of HNBR latex and modified clays were prepared by latex blending. The results of x-ray diffraction show that using a reswell technique with trisilanolphenyl POSS with MMT and rubber provides a large d-spacing as well as a mainly exfoliated structure. Modified clay in the latex affords no change in thermal degradation temperature. POSS modified clays successfully provide thermal stability and an intercalated or exfoliated structure when mixed with latex rubber.

DEVELOPMENT OF DRYLESS PELLET -APPLICATION OF PELLET ENGINEERING

Megumi Setomoto, Kazuhiko Iyagawa, Hiroyuki Inoya, Kozushi Yamada, Hiroyuki Hamada, May 2012

This study was carried out to clarify a relationship between moisture absorption fraction and higher-order structure of dry-less recycled PET pellets. Karl Fischer moisture titration, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microscopic Raman spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) were used to characterize the pellets to determine distinct structures that differentiates the dry-less pellets with normal pellets.

NOTES ON THE MICROPELLETIZATION OF POLYMER RESINS

William Aquite, Daniel Kasperek, Natalie Rudolph, Tim A. Osswald, May 2012

Manufacturing spherical polymer micropellets has been possible with a new technique that uses air to impose surface disturbances on an extrudate. Observations of experimental results considering properties of the melt are taken as the starting point for a deeper understanding of the behavior of polymer resins of interest in the production of micropellets. Such relationships include aspects of material properties as well as processing conditions.

THE AMERICA INVENTS ACT: SIX KEY CHANGES IN U.S. PATENT LAW

Steven J. Grossman, Beth A. Filip, May 2012

On September 16, 2011, the President of the United States signed into law the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. This law includes some of the most significant changes to U.S. Patent Law since the early 1950’s, changing the U.S. patent system to a “first to file” system. The Act also introduces procedures, such as post grant review and supplemental examination, and alters existing procedures such as inter-partes re-examination.

EFFECT OF FIBER SURFACE TREATMENT ON THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF JUTE MAT REINFORCED POLYCABORNATE COMPOSITES

Smith Thitithanasarn, Kazushi Yamada, Hiroyuki Nishimura, Hiroyuki Hamada, May 2012

This paper presents the possibility of using natural fiber as reinforcement for engineering thermoplastics composite. Jute mats from waste coffee bag were treated by thermoset resin such as flexible epoxy resin (FE) to improve their thermal resistance prior to compression mold with polycarbonate (PC). The effects of epoxy contents on thermal properties and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated.

MICROCELLULAR INJECTION MOLDING OF POLYLACTIDE WITH TALC

Amir Ameli, Davoud Jahani, Peter Ungyeong Jung, Chul B. Park, May 2012

The effects of talc content and injection flow rate on the foaming behavior of injection-molded microcellular polylactide (PLA) were investigated. Cell morphology with a cell size of less than 20 µm and cell density of greater than 108 cells/cm3 was successfully produced. The addition of 5 wt % talc to PLA increased the cell density roughly ten times and decreased the cell size about three times. Also, higher injection flow rate resulted in finer cells with greater density.

TROUBLESHOOTING RATE LIMITATIONS FOR MELT-FED SINGLE-SCREW EXTRUDERS

Mark A. Spalding, May 2012

Compounding lines that utilize single-screw extruders as the pumping device for pelletization can be severely rate limited if the metering channel of the single-screw machine is not optimized for the process. This paper provides the troubleshooting methodology for solving this type of problem using a case study.

CASE STUDIES OF NEW APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT USING ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATION

Daniel Yasenchak, May 2012

Developing new cost-effective polymer products is challenging in the current competitive marketplace. Electron beam irradiation is a powerful tool used to improve the properties of a wide range of materials, particularly polymers, and has been used to gain a competitive advantage in many successful commercial products. This paper reviews three case studies in the development of new polymer products using electron beam irradiation and the role of the electron beam processor.

IN SITU OBSERVATION OF THE FOAMING PROCESSES OF CELLULOSE NANOFIBER REINFORCED POLYLACTIC ACID BIOCOMPOSITES

W.D. Ding, A. Wong, T. Kuboki, C.B. Park, M. Sain, May 2012

This paper examines the effect of fiber content on the foaming behavior of cellulose nanofiber reinforced polylactic acid biocomposites. The in situ observation of batch foaming processes was conducted by using a high-speed camera. It was found that nanofiber content has a significant effect on the cell nucleation and growth in the composite foams. As the fiber content increased, the cell nucleating power increased and cell growth rate decreased.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF CROSSLINKABLE POLYAMIDES – A LOOK AT ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATED MOLDED PARTS

Bill Person, May 2012

A new family of radiation-crosslinkable polyamides has been developed for the North American market. A key component in the offering is technical support for product development. Companies can crosslink the polyamide using their current equipment or that of a contract electron beam processor and replace higher cost thermoplastic resins with the radiation crosslinkable polyamide. This paper discusses the technical advantages and target applications of the radiation crosslinkable polyamide.

SYNTHESIS OF POLYHEDRAL OLIGOMERIC SILSESQUIOXANE (POSS) FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBES

Xiaonan Kou, Christopher M. Sahagun, Robert Y. Lochhead, Sarah E. Morgan, May 2012

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was covalently attached to modified carbon nanotube (CNT) surfaces to improve nanotube dispersion. Two types of POSS were attached to multiwall CNTs. TGA, ATR-FTIR and TEM characterization of the CNT-g-POSS hybrids demonstrated covalent bonding of POSS to the CNT surface. POSS- modified CNTs showed homogeneous, stable dispersion in THF.

EVALUATION OF LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE ON COMPOSITE PIPES

Youjiro Minami, Tatsuro Ueda, Masahiro Muto, Kazushi Yamada, May 2012

The creep fracture of pipes is evaluated by the applied internal pressure. However, there were some disadvantages such as long testing time, large equipment and careful treatment on the stress rupture test. In this study, the new creep testing method which is simple and accelerated testing was proposed on composite pipes such as multilayer pipes. The results of the fluctuating internal pressure test on multilayer pipes were also described.

STUDY OF THE KINETIC OF SLIP AGENT MIGRATION IN POLYETHYLENE SHEETS

Richard James Silverwood, Farhad Sadeghi, Abdellah Ajji, May 2012

Line speeds in vertical form fill seal machine can be greatly increase by using slip agents such as erucamide. The focus of this research was to develop a tool to rapidly characterise the amount of slip agent in a polyethylene film sample. Using a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer, a model of the kinetic of erucamide migration in polyethylene film was developed. This model can further be used to determine one’s erucamide content of a sample polyethylene film.

EVALUATION OF LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE ON PLASTIC PIPES FOR HOT WATER SUPPLY

Tatsuro Ueda, Masahiro Muto, Hideo Hirabayashi, Kazushi Yamada, Hiroyuki Nishimura, May 2012

Crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipes and multilayer pipes of PEX and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) as a high oxygen barrier are used for hot water pipes. The long-term performance of them was evaluated in hot water and air. It was found that the yield stress of PEX and multilayer pipes increased with elapsed time due to crystallization. It was also found that multilayer pipes had a blister at the interface between PEX and EVOH.

EXTRUSION FOAMING BEHAVIOR OF PET

Mohamad Reza Barzegari, Nemat Hossieny, Mehdi Keshtkar, Nathali Chapleau, Chul B. Park, May 2012

The extrusion foaming behavior of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with CO2 was evaluated. The foaming morphologies of PET/nanocomposites and PET/chain extenders were also assessed. The foamed extrudates were analyzed for expansion ratio, cell structure, and degree of crystallinity using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Finally, the effect of the die temperature on the cell structure of the PET foam samples was studied.

SCREEN PRINTING PVC FILM WITH UV INK

George A. Paleo, May 2012

This study’s purpose was to develop a process for screen printing PVC film with UV-curing ink. PVC film is made with plasticizers that migrate to the surface and reduce ink adhesion. Surface treatments and ink additives were investigated. The study showed for recently manufactured film, poor ink adhesion was a result of incomplete cure. The ink’s high pigment loading impeded penetration of UV radiation. Dilution of the pigment with clear base enabled complete cure

CREEP FAILURE OF A POLYACETAL HOSE CLAMP

Niles G. Stenmark, May 2012

A plastic ratchet-type hose clamp had failed catastrophically while in service, causing water damage. The investigation revealed that the cracking occurred within a relatively short period of time due to creep rupture. Additional testing was performed to substantiate the cause of failure. This paper will focus on the steps used to characterize the mode of failure, and how accelerated testing methods were utilized to predict the life of the part.

FOAMING BEHAVIOR OF MELT COMPOUNDED THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE IN PRESENCE OF BUTANE

Nemat Hossieny, Mohammadreza Nofar, Mohamad Reza Barzegari, Chul Park, May 2012

The hard segments in thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are statistically distributed in the soft matrix phase. This distribution can be changed by processing the TPU material at various conditions such as melt processing or isothermal treatments. Furthermore, the hard segments contribute to the microcrystalline phase in TPUs. In this study, the foaming behaviour of “as received” and “processed” TPUs has been investigated using n-butane as a blowing agent.

EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL SURFACE TREATMENT ON METAL SURFACE MORPHOLOGY AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF METAL INSERT INJECTION MOLDINGS

Tomokazu Sasaki, Yuqiu Yang, Toshikazu, Kazushi Yamada, May 2012

This study is to clarify the adhesion mechanism as target. Various surface treatments on the metal were carried out to investigate its effect on the adhesion property of insert moldings. It is found that the surface roughness of metal could be changed by the chemical agent with different ratio of nitric hydrofluoric acid and immersion time. Optimum surface treatment exists to obtain high adhesion property between polymer and metal.

EVALUATING FRACTURE TOUGHNESS IN DEGRADED POLYMERIC THIN FILMS

Hanxiao Ge, Susan C. Mantell, May 2012

Thin polymer films are under consideration as materials for use in roof top mounted solar thermal collectors. The fracture behavior of these materials is of particular concern for this application. When exposed to UV light, film degradation can lead to reduced fracture toughness. In this paper, a method for evaluating the fracture behavior of thin films as a function of the extent of degradation is described. Pilot study results for fracture behavior of polyethylene film are presented.