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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Traditionally mold design has been taught on a theoretical basis where studentƒ??s designs never leave the drawing board. Todayƒ??s computer aided manufacturing techniques allow for hands-on design projects. A junior level mold design engineering class was revised to include an intensive art-to-part project. Given constraints, students designed new plastic parts, manufactured the tooling using CAM software and CNC machining, and injection molded prototype parts. In addition to mold design, students learned machine tool practices and the difficulties associated with commissioning new tools. The project required considerable initial investment, but was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.
P. Caton-Rose , I. M. Ward , G. Thompson , P D Coates, May 2008
Combining molecular orientation of polymer chains
with short glass fibre reinforcement has been shown to
significantly improve material stiffness in the direction of
orientation1. Replacement of the stiff glass fibres with
inorganic fillers also has the capability of improving
mechanical performance of oriented composites but at a
reduced production cost. Orientation is achieved via a
batch die drawing process 5 to 20 oC below the melt
temperature of the polypropylene inorganic composite
material. This experimental investigation has now been
extended to consider cavitation around particulates within
the composite material during the die drawing process
using macroscopic and microscopic finite element models
validated via image analysis and density measurements of
actual drawn components. Within this paper we
demonstrate the modelling route to achieve micro-scale
predictions of cavitation based on a macroscopic analysis
of the complete component through a technique known as
submodelling.
P. Caton-Rose , I. M. Ward , G. Thompson , P D Coates, May 2008
Combining molecular orientation of polymer chains with short glass fibre reinforcement has been shown to significantly improve material stiffness in the direction of orientation. Replacement of the stiff glass fibres with inorganic fillers also has the capability of improving mechanical performance of oriented composites but at a reduced production cost. Orientation is achieved via a batch die drawing process 5 to 20 oC below the melt temperature of the polypropylene inorganic composite material. This experimental investigation has now been extended to consider cavitation around particulates within the composite material during the die drawing process using macroscopic and microscopic finite element models validated via image analysis and density measurements of actual drawn components. Within this paper we demonstrate the modelling route to achieve micro-scale predictions of cavitation based on a macroscopic analysis of the complete component through a technique known as submodelling.
This paper presents an experimental investigation on the capability of using commercially available plastic bottles as energy absorbing devices for safety crash barrier applications. The compression tests are conducted in vertical and horizontal orientations with bottles of various sizes and with a variety of filler materials such as air water foam sand and paper pulp and also with mixture of such fillers. Results are compared in terms of varying plastic bottle size bottle orientation and filler types.Results show that commercially available plastic bottles with proper orientation and appropriate filler materials are capable of absorbing significant amounts of crash energy.
Carbon nanofibers - as received oxidized and functionalized with polyol - were mixed with thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) at the time of in situ synthesis in a chaotic mixer. The TPU was synthesized from polypropylene glycol butanediol and 4 4'-diphenylmethane diiocyanate. The degree of nanofiber dispersion was analyzed using hard segment hydrogen bonding. It was found that functionalized carbon nanofibers showed more interactions with hard and soft segments in TU. Consequently these fibers dispersed well promoted mixing between the hard and soft segment phases and prompted an increase of glass transition temperature.
T. Kuboki , J.W.S. Lee , C.B. Park , M. Sain, May 2008
This paper investigates the effects of the fiber content
and the processing conditions such as the shot size and
the injection speed on the foaming behavior of injection
molded composite foams made from cellulose fiber
reinforced polypropylene. Composites are injection
molded by using an advanced structural foam molding
machine with a physical blowing agent N2. Foamed
specimens are prepared with different injection speeds and
void fractions while the mold pressure profile void
fraction and foam morphology are characterized. The
results suggest that there is an optimum fiber content for
the cell morphology of injection molded composite foams
made of cellulose fiber reinforced polypropylene.
T. Kuboki , J.W.S. Lee , C.B. Park , M. Sain, May 2008
This paper investigates the effects of the fiber content and the processing conditions, such as the shot size and the injection speed, on the foaming behavior of injection molded composite foams made from cellulose fiber reinforced polypropylene. Composites are injection molded by using an advanced structural foam molding machine with a physical blowing agent, N2. Foamed specimens are prepared with different injection speeds and void fractions while the mold pressure profile, void fraction and foam morphology are characterized. The results suggest that there is an optimum fiber content for the cell morphology of injection molded composite foams made of cellulose fiber reinforced polypropylene.
The use of organoclay in polymers is expected to increase on average annually by about 5 percent. This paper describes melt blending techniques using PET nanocomposites containing commercially available organoclays with different percentage of surfactant coatings. This paper will also evaluate the morphology and mechanical properties of the composites using a range of techniques like scanning electron microscope melt rheology andthermal analysis. Comparisons will be made between properties of amorphous and semi crystalline films in terms of surfactant used and material properties. It will be demonstrated that the quantity of surfactant used with the organoclays can significantly affect dispersion and properties of composites produced.
Nicholas George , Leslie R. Farris , Sung-hwan Yoon , Melisenda McDonald , Carol Barry, May 2008
The ability to manufacture micro-scale features on
polymers with good optical properties has proven to
be useful in biomedical applications such as
microelectromechanical systems (Bio-MEMS). High
rate manufacturing of such Bio-MEMS could be
accomplished through the injection molding process.
A drawback to the injection molding process is the
occurrence of residual stresses as a result of flow
induced orientation. In bio-MEMS applications the
directed adsorption of bio sensing molecules like
antibodies to the surface is critical. A patented
PMMA bacterial Protein G antibody orientation
method previously reported termed ALYGNSA can be
used to achieve such adsorption. The bacterial protein
G linker protein is used in part on two residual
stressed (high and low) injection molded micro-fluidic
patterned PMMA discs. Results indicate low residual
stress may aid the adsorption of Protein G and
enhancement of antibody orientation.
Nicholas George , Leslie R. Farris , Sung-hwan Yoon , Melisenda McDonald , Carol Barry, May 2008
The ability to manufacture micro-scale features on polymers with good optical properties has proven to be useful in biomedical applications such as microelectromechanical systems (Bio-MEMS). High rate manufacturing of such Bio-MEMS could be accomplished through the injection molding process. A drawback to the injection molding process is the occurrence of residual stresses as a result of flow induced orientation. In Bio-MEMS applications the directed adsorption of bio sensing molecules, like antibodies, to the surface is critical. A patented PMMA, bacterial Protein G antibody orientation method previously reported termed ALYGNSA can be used to achieve such adsorption. The bacterial protein G linker protein is used in part on two residual stressed (high and low) injection molded micro-fluidic patterned PMMA discs. Results indicate low residual stress may aid the adsorption of Protein G and enhancement of antibody orientation.
Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) based on
styrene block copolymers such as SBS and
SEBS still draw technological and scientific
interest because their low cost formulations
combine the entropy-elasticity of elastomers with
the processability of thermoplastics. This class of
material plays an important role in replacing
many traditional thermo-set rubber applications.
Metallocene catalysts provided a broad range of
new olefin based copolymers. Among them the
propylene a-olefin copolymers had a fast growth
in TPE scenario as modifier in polymer blends
because of their properties. In a previous paper
we discussed the use of metallocene based
ethylene-octene copolymers in blends with
SBCs. They provide the right balance of costperformance
when used as an elastomeric
extender.
In this study we demonstrate the effect of
different metallocene based propylene -olefins
copolymers (PAO) in blends with SBCs.
The results achieved for the PAO containing
compounds indicate that such family of materials
can be tailored to yield new TPEs with a
combination of desirable softness and
mechanical properties with improved processing.
Nei S. Domingues , Carolina C. J. R. Bulhões, May 2008
Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) based on styrene block copolymers such as SBS and SEBS still draw technological and scientific interest because their low cost formulations combine the entropy-elasticity of elastomers with the processability of thermoplastics. This class of material plays an important role in replacing many traditional thermo-set rubber applications. Metallocene catalysts provided a broad range of new olefin based copolymers. Among them the propylene a-olefin copolymers had a fast growth in TPE scenario as modifier in polymer blends because of their properties. In a previous paper we discussed the use of metallocene based ethylene-octene copolymers in blends with SBCs. They provide the right balance of costperformance when used as an elastomeric extender. In this study we demonstrate the effect of different metallocene based propylene -olefins copolymers (PAO) in blends with SBCs. The results achieved for the PAO containing compounds indicate that such family of materials can be tailored to yield new TPEs with a combination of desirable softness, and mechanical properties, with improved processing.
Smart blending machines operate by chaotic
advection a new sub-field of fluid mechanics. Melts that
are introduced into them become converted to multi-layers
of controllable average thickness. Upon extrusion patterns
can be readily generated inside and on film sheet tubes or
other shapes that have the appearance of realistic wood
grains. Moreover simulated wood grains can be varied
through on-line control. An infinite variety of grains can
be formed or a specific grain can be repeated at desired
intervals. In this paper the machines and process are
described and examples are presented.
Smart blending machines operate by chaotic advection, a new sub-field of fluid mechanics. Melts that are introduced into them become converted to multi-layers of controllable average thickness. Upon extrusion, patterns can be readily generated inside and on film, sheet, tubes or other shapes that have the appearance of realistic wood grains. Moreover, simulated wood grains can be varied through on-line control. An infinite variety of grains can be formed or a specific grain can be repeated at desired intervals. In this paper, the machines and process are described and examples are presented.
High-throughput rheological characterization has applications in many industries but dealing with molten polymers poses special challenges. For purposes of structure determination however rheology has potential advantages over GPC. There is currently no commercial rhometric device that can make rapid measurements on very small samples of molten polymers. However descriptions of several devices designed to accomplish this have been described in presentations and publications. The deformations involved include capillary torsional shear and squeeze flows. Each of these approaches has its advantages and disadvantages and it is not yet clear which if any of them will be able to meet the stringent requirements of high-throughput characterization.
R.K. Ayyer , A. R. Kamdar , Y.J. Lin , P.S. Dias , B.C. Poon , A. Hiltner , E. Baer1, May 2008
The effect of chain microstructure on the adhesion of elastomeric ethylene–octene copolymers to polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was investigated using microlayered coextruded tapes having different adhesive tie-layer thicknesses (0.1 ?m – 14 ?m). The adhesive copolymers used were an olefinic block copolymer (OBC) and two statistical ethylene octene (EO) copolymers. The OBC exhibited much higher delamination toughness as compared to the statistical copolymers in T-peel experiments. The dependence of delamination toughness on the tie-layer thickness exhibited two distinct regimes: a fibrillated thin tie-layer regime (0.1 to 1 ?m) and a continuous damage zone in the thick tie-layer regime (2 to 14 ?m). A correlation was found between the damage zone morphology and the critical delamination stress for interfacial failure. The effect of temperature on the delamination toughness was also examined.
R.K. Ayyer , A. R. Kamdar , Y.J. Lin , P.S. Dias , B.C. Poon , A. Hiltner , E. Baer, May 2008
The effect of chain microstructure on the adhesion of elastomeric ethyleneƒ??octene copolymers to polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was investigated using microlayered coextruded tapes having different adhesive tie-layer thicknesses (0.1 ?¬m ƒ?? 14 ?¬m). The adhesive copolymers used were an olefinic block copolymer (OBC) and two statistical ethylene octene (EO) copolymers. The OBC exhibited much higher delamination toughness as compared to the statistical copolymers in T-peel experiments. The dependence of delamination toughness on the tie-layer thickness exhibited two distinct regimes: a fibrillated thin tie-layer regime (0.1 to 1 ?¬m) and a continuous damage zone in the thick tie-layer regime (2 to 14 ?¬m). A correlation was found between the damage zone morphology and the critical delamination stress for interfacial failure. The effect of temperature on the delamination toughness was also examined.
The effects of a bioactive [Nalidixic Acid - NA] and copolymers [Poly L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)] on the drug release morphology and mechanical properties of Poly -caprolactone [PCL] were studied. Release of NA increased with the addition of copolymers in the PCL with a maximum release of 55% in a blend containing 5%w/w each of PLLA PEG and NA. The filler effect of the NA was illustrated by an increase in viscosity in the blends. FTIR spectrums showed the blending of the PCL and the NA. The carbonyl bond present in the biodegradable polymers PCL and PEG allowed for some degree of miscibility also confirmed by the decrease in thermal conductivity from 0.26 to 0.2 Wm'C. Mechanical properties were decreased by the copolymers with the Young's Modulus decreasing by 15%.
The effect of concentration of Igepal CO 630 on slow crack propagation in MDPE pipe was investigated. The kinetics and mechanism of crack propagation in fatigue at R=0.1 and creep at 50 ?øC were compared to those in air. The fatigue and creep behavior followed the same stepwise crack growth mechanism as in air at all the concentrations used. As the concentration increased to 0.01 vol. % the creep lifetime decreased significantly whereas the lifetime in fatigue gradually increased. At higher concentrations the lifetime was similar in creep and fatigue.
Pratapkumar Nagarajan , Kathryn Abbott , Donggang Yao, May 2008
Porous polymer fibers can be fabricated using
different methods including hollow fiber extrusion
multicomponent fiber extrusion (e.g. with islands-in-sea
morphology) and solution processing. However with the
current technology it is difficult to achieve a continuous
porous structure across the entire fiber cross-section and
control the pore size. This greatly limits potential
applications of such fibers in many emerging biochemical
and biomedical applications. We report here a filament
extrusion process of immiscible polymer blends for
fabrication of highly porous fibers with continuous and
size adjustable porous structures.
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Any article that is cited in another manuscript or other work is required to use the correct reference style. Below is an example of the reference style for SPE articles:
Brown, H. L. and Jones, D. H. 2016, May.
"Insert title of paper here in quotes,"
ANTEC 2016 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA May 23-25, 2016. [On-line].
Society of Plastics Engineers
Available: www.4spe.org.
Note: if there are more than three authors you may use the first author's name and et al. EG Brown, H. L. et al.
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