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
BIAXIAL ORIENTATION AND PROPERTIES OF POLYLACTIDE/THERMOPLASTIC STARCH BLENDS
Nathalie Chapleau, Hongbo Li, Michel Huneault, May 2011
The biaxial stretchability of polylactide/thermoplastic starch blends was investigated. Blends were prepared via twin-screw extrusion. Water, glycerol and sorbitol were used as plasticizers. Interfacial modification was performed by grafting the PLA with maleic anhydride. A chain extender was also used. The addition of the grafted PLA yielded a finer TPS dispersed phase. These blends were drawn using a laboratory biaxial stretcher. The addition of TPS, grafted PLA and chain extender affected the biaxial stretchability of the neat PLA. Adding TPS to PLA resulted in a decrease of the tensile modulus but increased the elongation at break in some cases.
ULTRASONIC CUTTING OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) FILMS
Julius Vogel, David Grewell, May 2011
Ultrasonic cutting systems are employed with materials that are difficult to cut with standard mechanical systems. The cutting knife/edge typically vibrates at a frequency of 20-60 kHz, heating the substrate during the cutting and simultaneously sealing the cut edges. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable thermoplastic material derived from starch and sugar, is relatively brittle compared to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has similar mechanical properties. This brittleness is problematic during mechanical cutting, which produces micro-cracks that further embrittle the material.
FABRICATION OF MICRO-DIES FOR EXTRUSION OF POLYMER MELTS
Sebastian Gepp, Thomas Ottnad, Franz Irlinger, Tim Luth, May 2011
The ongoing trend for miniaturization demands research in the field of micro-extrusion. This work compares two techniques for manufacturing micro-dies; mechanical manufacturing and laser ablation. A micro-die needs to fulfill requirements such as fast nozzle exchange and high accuracy. The nozzle channel needs to have a diameter of less than 0.5 mm, a high quality and high aspect ratio. The disadvantages and advantages of both techniques are discussed while experimental data supports the discussion. The results go well with the expected behavior based on the nozzle channels geometry. Laser ablation is the tool of choice when manufacturing micro-dies for extrusion.
SEAL LAYER MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION IN TERMS OF CRYSTALLINITY AND RHEOLOGY
Zahra Najarzadeh, Abdellah Ajji, May 2011
A series of commercial seal layer grades ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) resins were investigated in terms of thermal and rheological properties. The effect of vinyl acetate (VA) content in Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments revealed that the increase of VA content leads to decrease in melting point and heat of fusion. In oscillatory shear measurements the effect of long-chain branching on high shear sensitivity and long relaxation time of resins was revealed. In addition, a significant strain hardening behavior in extensional viscosity measurements was observed which indicated high melt strength of these resins.
CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF SCRATCH VISIBILITY DETERMINATION METHODOLOGIES
Peng Liu, Robert Browning, Hung-Jue Sue, Scooter Jones, Thomas Traugott, May 2011
The major objective of this work is to critically assess the similarity and differences between the two industrial scratch visibility determination methodologies: Erichsen and ASTM/ISO scratch tests. The assessment relies on the two evaluation methodologies: L for Erichsen and contrast for ASTM/ISO. A good correlation between the two methods can only be established if a contrast criterion is also utilized for the Erichsen test. The surface deformation that gives rise to light scattering such as the scratch profile and the surface roughness on the scratch path were studied for both methods and their implication on scratch visibility will be discussed.
ACCELERATED ENVIRONMENTAL AGEING OF MATERIALS USED FOR COLLAPSIBLE FUEL STORAGE TANKS
James Sloan, David Flanagan, Paul Touchet, Henry Feuer, Daniel Desechepper, Charles Pergantis, May 2011
The purpose of this work was to perform a comparative analysis of various candidate nitrile coated fabric materials supplied by potential vendors to be used as fuel storage tanks and compare the results to the currently fielded polyurethane storage tanks. Our strategy is to utilize advanced environmental ageing methods to simulate extended weathering conditions. Our results demonstrate that the nitrile coated fabrics performed well in our evaluation. Their breaking strengths are about equal to the currently fielded urethanes and they performed comparably when subjected to environmental ageing conditions.
HIGH TEMPERATURE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PEROXIDE CROSS-LINKED ETHYLENE-OCTENE COPOLYMER
Rajesh Theravalappil, Petr Svoboda, Sameepa Poongavalappil, May 2011
Ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) was cross-linked by dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) based on polypropylene (PP)/EOC-DCP was prepared by dynamic vulcanization. Gel content was noted. Tensile creep properties of these samples at elevated temperatures (70- 200?øC) were studied. Residual strain after 100% and 200% elongation were examined. EOC cross-linked with lower peroxide levels underwent creep failure easily at lower temperatures even with small loads. EOC with 0.6 wt. % of DCP was found to be the strongest even at higher temperatures and lower temperatures with heavier loads.
A STUDY ON INJECTION-STRUCTURE COUPLED ANALYSIS FOR THE PREDICTION OF INTEGRATED METAL INSERT INJECTION MOLDING PARTS
Baeg-Soon Cha, Hyung Pil Park, Gil-Sang Yoon, Byung-Gi Pyo, Won-Gil Ryim, Jae Hyuk Choi, Byung Ohk Rhee, May 2011
This study proposes an injection-structure coupled analysis to quickly predict the deformation of the insert parts of small precise connectors. The flow pattern was determined through an analysis of the plastic injection molding of small precise connectors, and a structural analysis was performed using injection pressure. For this purpose, an injection-structure mapping program was developed to use the injection molding pressure as the input to the boundary condition of the structural analysis. The effect of injection molding, which varies according to the process conditions of the metal insert parts of small connectors, was analyzed through structural analysis.
PHOTODEGRADATION OF POLYPROPYLENES WITH CLARIFYING AGENT
Jana Navratilova, Roman Cermak, Petr Mlejnek, May 2011
The work compared the effect of ñ-nucleating/clarifying agent based on 1,3;2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol on the photodegradation in two polypropylenes. One of them was nucleated directly by producer while the second in the laboratory. For comparison, neat PP was studied as well. The samples were irradiated by UV-light and then examined using several methods. The results showed that the addition of ñ-nucleating agent influenced only slightly the process of photodegradation. However, significant differences in structure among the materials were observed.
IMPROVED DIALYSIS TECHNIQUE FOR CORE-SHELL PULLULAN-POLYCAPROLACTONE (PCL) NANOSPHERES LOADED WITH HYDROPHOBIC CIPROFLOXACIN
Sally Shady, Daniel Schmidt, Steve McCarthy, May 2011
Drug delivery vehicles in the form of nanospheres improve solubility, bioavailability and biodistribution of many pharmaceutical drugs. However, low encapsulation efficiency is a limitation that currently challenges many drug carriers. The dialysis method can be used as a technique to address this problem and enhance the apparent purity and consistency of the nanospheres being prepared. This research introduces a dialysis technique that retains 30 to 40 times more drugs of nanospheres being prepared.
COMPARISON OF SERVO AND PNEUMATIC ULTRASONIC WELDING OF HDPE SHEAR JOINTS
Abbass Mokhtarzadeh, Avi Benatar, May 2011
Pneumatic and servo-driven ultrasonic welding of HDPE shear joints were studied. For pneumatic ultrasonic welding, the effects of weld force, down speed, and amplitude of vibration on weld strength were studied. For servo-driven ultrasonic welding, the effects of velocity, velocity profiling and collapse distance during hold on weld strength were studied. Our goal was not to optimize the welding conditions but rather compare the operation of the two systems. Both systems worked well and produced consistent welds. More work is needed with both systems to better understand the ramification of some of the controllable parameters.
RESIDUAL STRESS EVALUATION OF EASTMAN TRITANƒ?› COPOLYESTER, POLYCARBONATE AND THEIR BLENDS WITH ABS
Mark Treece, Gary Stack, May 2011
This study evaluates the residual stress levels in objects molded with Eastman's Tritan copolyesters and Edgetek XT (Tritan blends with ABS) compared to molding grades of Polycarbonate and PC/ABS. A layer removal technique and chemical solvent testing are employed for stress evaluation. Both methods show that molded-in stress levels of Tritan based materials are generally 0.2-0.5X lower than levels measured in PC-based products. Additionally, testing shows that ABS has little impact on the stress levels of either Tritan or PC. These results strongly reveal why Tritan containing products exhibit excellent chemical resistance performance in a variety of market applications.
EFFECT OF CRYSTALLIZATION AT FILM INTERFACE IN HEAT SEALING PROCESS
Ken Miyata, Tetsuo Abe, Hideki Tokanai, Akihiro Nishioka, Go Murasawa, Tomonori Koda, May 2011
Heat sealing is a general technique used for joining polymer film. The mechanism was not clarified. Heat seal temperature at sealed film interface is an important factor to control heat seal properties. In this study temperature profile at sealed film interface in-situ heat seal process was precisely measured by a fine thermocouple. Molecular structure development at film interface was investigated by WAXD and DSC. In heating and cooling process temperature profiles were obtained. The heating and cooling rate depended on crystallization behavior in heat sealing process. We concluded that crystallization is a major factor to affect heat seal properties.
MANUFACTURING OF AGAROSE-BASED CHROMATOGRAPHIC ADSORBENTS WITH CONTROLLED PORE AND PARTICLE SIZES
Nicolas Ioannidis, Andizej Pacek, James Bowen, Zhibing Zhang, May 2011
The effect of ionic strength and quenching temperature on the mechanical properties and structure of agarose-based chromatographic adsorbents in micro-beads for bioseparation was investigated. The pore size/size distribution of the beads was measured by analysis of their AFM images. Their mechanical properties were determined by a micromanipulation technique based on compression of single micro-particles. It was found that the mean pore size and stiffness of agarose beads increase with ionic strength and slow cooling. These two parameters do not affect the particle size/size distribution.
THE PREDICTION OF INJECTION MOULDED PRODUCT MASS THROUGH PROCESS SIGNALS
Umar Mohammad, Leigh Mulvaney-Johnson, Russell Speight, Phil Coates, May 2011
The injection moulding process has a complicated set of process parameters and is subject to variations over time resulting from material, environmental and machine component changes. In order to maintain product quality it has been proven that monitoring the process signals is beneficial towards identifying possible changes in the moulded product. Here, the process signals (melt pressure, temperature and screw displacement) are utilised along with material pressure-specific volume-temperature (pvT) characteristics to estimate the moulded product mass. The successful validation of this method presented over a range of processing conditions.
THE EFFECT OF NANOTUBE FEEDING POSITION IN TWIN-SCREW EXTRUSION OF PP BASED NANOCOMPOSITES
Michael Muller, Beate Krause, Bernd Kretzschmar, Petra Potschke, May 2011
The influence of feeding conditions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT), namely Baytubes C150P and Nanocyl ›NC7000, into polypropylene (PP) was investigated with respect to achieve high electrical conductivity and suitable nanotube dispersion. Both MWNT types were fed at selected concentrations either in the hopper of the twin-screw extruder or using a side feeder under otherwise same conditions (rotation speed, throughput, temperature profile). The electrical resistivity was measured on pressed plates and injection moulded samples and the state of the filler dispersion was studied using transmission light microscopy (LM). Mechanical properties, like tensile and impact strength were characterised on injection moulded samples.
EFFECTS OF GAS AND D-LACTIC ACID CONTENTS ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF MICROCELLULAR INJECTION MOLDED POLY (LACTIC ACID)
Hai-bin Zhao, Zhiziang Cui, Ziaofei Sun, Lih-Sheng Turnq, Xiang-Fang Penq, May 2011
This paper investigated the effect of gas content on the tensile properties and microstructure of two grades of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) that differ in terms of D-lactic acid (D-LA) content. SCF Nitrogen (N2) was used as the physical blowing agent for molding microcellular PLA tensile bars. The properties of microcellular PLA were found to be dependent upon the D-LA content. Under the most favorable conditions, high cell density and small cell size was obtained. A high cell nucleation rate and a high degree of crystallinity with different levels of D-LA enhanced microcellular structure formation at higher levels of N2.
SIMULATION OF EPP BEAD MANUFACTURING IN BATCH FOAMING PROCESS THROUGH HIGH PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETER (HPDSC)
Mohammadreza Nofar, Yanting Guo, Chul B. Park, May 2011
To simulate the evolution of the melting behavior of polypropylene (PP) during the manufacturing of expanded PP bead foams (EPP) through batch process, a high pressure differential scanning calorimeter (HP-DSC) machine was used. The EPP bead foam has two original melting peaks which are suitable for bead foams during the steam chest molding process to produce final products with well sintered beads and good firmness. The influence of various saturation temperatures, time, and pressure on the double crystal melting peak creation is investigated in this work. The results can bring an overestimation of the optimized parameters for the batch process.
EFFECTS OF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON ADDITIVE ASSISTED LASER SINTERING OF POLYETHERETHERKETONE
Michael Kroh, Christian Bonten, Peter Eyerer, May 2011
New approaches have been done to develop the selective laser sintering process and materials. Within this process a layer to layer fusion plays an important role to achieve good bonding and part properties. This paper deals with the additive assisted laser sintering of polymers, which allows an adjustable sintering depth and independency from the optical absorption behavior of the polymer. Within this study an approach is presented to correlate the observed sintering behavior of polyetheretherketone with process and material parameters. A statistical model has been used to describe a correlation and identify the important parameters and effects within the process.
POLYPHENYLENE ETHER MACROMONOMER: X. VINYL TERMINATED TELECHELIC MACROMERS
Edward Peters, Scott Fisher, Mini Jeevanath, Hua Guo, May 2011
Unique low molecular weight polyphenylene ether telechelic copolymers (PPE-M) were designed for use in thermosetting resins. Indeed, PPE macromonomers have been heralded as a breakthrough in the search for materials that broadly enhanced performance of thermoset materials. For example, the phenolic terminated macromer gave broad enhancements of performance with epoxy resins and cyanate esters. Another important class of thermoset resins involves vinyl or unsaturated monomers. Therefore, various vinyl-terminated PPE macromonomers were prepared and their performance was quantified in vinyl-based thermoset resins. The vinyl groups were allyl, methacryl, allyl hydroxyl propyl, and vinyl benzyl.
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