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
Mar Behavior of Thermoplastic Olefins
Robert Lee Browning, Han Jiang, Allan Moyse, Hung-Jue Sue, Edmund Lau, May 2007
Work has recently been conducted at Texas A&M University to evaluate the mar resistance of thermoplastic olefins using a modification of a currently established ASTM standard (ASTM D7027-05). This work strives not only to examine how the mar" is formed but also to illustrate the potential for this methodology to be established as a quantitative method for evaluating mar resistance of polymers. Approaches to improve mar resistance of polymers are also discussed."
Effect of Material Properties and Processing Conditions on PP Film Casting
Kenneth Aniunoh, Graham Harrison, May 2007
Film casting is a common industrial process used to produce polymeric films. The material properties and processing conditions have a significant impact on the process and the final thermal/mechanical properties. We experimentally investigate the impact of polymer molecular weight on the films. The effect of process conditions and post-processing steps like uniaxial stretching, on film strength, orientation and crystallinity is also studied. The measured velocity and temperature profiles are compared to model predictions.
Optimizing the Reaction Injection Molding Process using Polydicyclopentadiene
Nicole Hoekstra, Nate Slesinger, Luke Murphy, Jordan Keisser, May 2007
The variables that contribute to the processing difficulties of Polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) are many and not well understood. A screening designed experiment was run to determine the most vital of these variables. It was found that all of the variables had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the PDCPD parts. A Central Composite designed experiment was then run to determine the optimum processing parameters including all of these significant variables.
Use of Injection Speed Profile to Achieve a Uniform Void Fraction Distribution in Injection Molded Structural Foams
John W.S. Lee, Jing Wang, Chul B. Park, Guoliang Tao, May 2007
The change in pressure drop and pressure drop rate at the gate of the mold during the structural foam molding process results in an inevitable nonuniform void fraction along the melt flow direction in injection molded structural foams. The nonuniform void fraction not only reduces the achievable void fraction but also can deteriorate the mechanical properties of structural foams. In this paper, an effort has been made to overcome this problem with various injection speed profiles.
Investigation and Modification of the Melt Rheology of Olefin Block Copolymers
P. Gupta, S. Costeux, T. Oswald, Y.W. Cheung, L. Weaver, S. Karande, S. Chum, May 2007
The melt rheology of novel Olefin Block Copolymers (OBCs), recently developed by The Dow Chemical Company, was investigated. The melt shear rheology of OBCs was found to be characteristic of linear random copolymers of ethylene and __olefins. Furthermore, the melt rheology can be modified to target certain specific application areas by chemical means or by blending with traditional polyolefins with broader molecular weight distributions or those containing long chain branching.
The Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on the Crystallization Behavior of Polyethylene Oxide
K.A. Narh, M. Khanolkar, S.M. Umbrajkar, E. Dreizin, May 2007
The effect of well-dispersed carbon nanotubes on the crystallization characteristics of polyethylene-oxide was studied. The specimens were prepared via the solution-sonication procedure. The results confirm the effectiveness of CNTs as nucleation agents for semi-crystalline polymers.
Fracture Behavior of Medium Density Polyethylenes by Essential Work of Fracture (EWF)
Johan J. Sánchez, María A. Navarro, Alejandro J. Müller, Orlando O. Santana, May 2007
The Fracture behavior of Medium Density Polyethylenes (MDPE) with different melt flow indexes (1.9 to 5.0 dg/min) employed in rotational molding were studied by Essential Work of Fracture (EWF). The EWF parameters obtained were equivalent for all samples examined regardless of their differences in comonomer content and molecular weights. Annealing of samples resulted in lower ductility values according to EWF parameters, in spite of minimum crystallinity changes.
A Parametric Study on the Processing and Physical Characterization of PLGA 50/50 Bioscaffolds
Linus Leung, Christine Chan, Janice Song, Billy Tam, Hani Naguib, May 2007
In this study, the effects of processing parameters on cell morphology and mechanical properties of PLGA 50/50 bioscaffolds for tissue engineering applications were investigated. The PLGA samples were processed using a salt leaching technique in a batch foaming setup. The foaming parameters were varied, and the physical and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were investigated.
Improving Surface Finish Quality on 3D Printed Metal Tooling by Altering Infiltration Practices
Brady B. Godbey, David C. Angstadt, May 2007
This work investigates improvement techniques used with 3D printed metal parts during the infiltration treatment. By extending the infiltration cycle and applying a planar contact surface to the face of a sample, reductions in roughness of 76% are possible. The goal is to produce injection mold tooling with an acceptable surface quality without performing a secondary machining process.
Process Considerations for UV Curing of 3D Decorated Plastic Parts
Kevin H. Joesel, May 2007
The use of UV coatings, inks, and adhesives on thermoset and thermoplastic substrates continues to grow at a rapid rate. UV and electron beam curing has moved from primarily curing of inks to functional and decorative coatings. One of the areas with the highest growth rate is the use of industrial coatings on 3D parts. Processing of 3D part presents a number of challenges – the critical process challenge is that UV curing requires line-of-sight to achieve activation and cure.
Nucleation and Crystallisation of PLA
Hongbo Li, Michel A. Huneault, May 2007
Unless it can be properly crystallized, the field of applications for poly(lactic acid) will be limited by its low glass transition temperature. This paper discusses different strategies that can lead to partial crystallization within typical polymer processing conditions. X-ray techniques and DSC analysis are used to access the crystalline content developed in various molding and extrusion conditions and as a function of plasticizer and nucleating agent content.
Grooves in Scratch Testing
Witold Brostow, Wunpen Chonkaew, Reza Mirshams, Ashish Srivastava, May 2007
For a number of polymers with different chemical structures and different properties, we have determined scratch resistance and sliding wear. We have determined cross section areas of the grooves including the groove and side top-ridge areas. The nanohardness of the polymers was also determined using nanoindentation testing both inside and outside the grooves. A relationship between the hardness and the groove areas has emerged.
Interaction of HALS and Colorants
Steve Goldstein, May 2007
A series of colorants including yellows, reds, blues and greens have been evaluated when processed with monomeric and oligomeric HALS in PP and HDPE. Comparisons have been done in masstone and tint looking at effects on color shift and strength.
Development of a Composite Thermal Barrier Coating
Jennifer K. Lynch, Thomas J. Nosker, David Ondre, Mark Mazar, Patrick Nosker, May 2007
A comparison between commercially available and a newly developed thermal management coating applied to steel substrates is presented. A successful coating must protect a thin 76 by 152 mm steel plate during a direct flame test and withstand low temperature flexural tests without cracking or delaminating. The only coating to meet both requirements is the newly formulated composite consisting of fiberglass in a silicone matrix.
Advances in Vibration Welding Techniques Allow Welding Multipiece Console Assembly
Bill Heatherwick, Katsumi Arai, May 2007
Advances in vibration welding tooling and machinery will offer manufacturers of center consoles a cost effective alternative to current methods. This concept will offer improved manufacturing flexibility and enhance overall performance. We will discuss the tooling and machine concept. This concept is the first of its kind and addresses the issues associated with welding multiple thermoplastic parts in a single operation using the vibration welding process. The tooling and concept are patent pending.
Interfacial Interactions in Polymer Thin Films and Polymer Nanocomposites
Yong Yang, Jiong Shen, Jintao Yang, Chuntai Liu, L. James Lee, May 2007
Polystyrene (PS) thin films were spun-coat on graphite and silicon oxide surfaces to resemble the polymer-substrate interface in carbon and organoclay based nanocomposites. The film thickness was varied and the apparent glass transition temperature (Tg,a) were investigated by using nanoparticles embedding technique. The PS on these substrates shows different Tg,a profiles, depending on the polymer-substrate interactions. These results will provide valuable guides for rational design of new polymer nanocomposites.
Sharkskin and Melt Fracture of Some Biodegradable Polymers
D. Kanev, E. Takacs, J. Vlachopoulos, May 2007
Sharkskin and melt fracture phenomena have been investigated in two commercial biodegradable polyesters– aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester (AAC), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and their blends. The study was conducted in a two bore capillary rheometer. It was observed that at high shear rates and stresses PLA exhibits sharkskin and gross melt fracture, while AAC exhibits only gross melt fracture. Experiments indicate that the blends exhibit both phenomena and that blending is beneficial for postponing the onset of flow instabilities to higher shear stresses.
Application of Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy for Measuring Relative Interface Thickness in Multilayer Polyolefin Films
Rajesh P. Paradkar, Jing Li, Georg Bar, Hoang Pham, Clive Bosnyak, May 2007
In any polymer blend system, the nature and thickness of the polymer interface can have a significant influence on the overall performance of the blend. AFM in tapping mode (TMAFM) was employed to establish a systematic methodology to quantitatively measure the relative interface thickness in coextruded multilayer films.
Wettability of Photografted Deep-Groove Polypropylene Fibers
Siqiang Zhu, Douglas E. Hirt, May 2007
This paper presents photografting as a surface modification method to provide permanent wettability improvement to deep-groove polypropylene (PP) fibers. We also describe approaches to evaluate the wettability of these fibers and the wicking performance of fiber bundles when polyacrylamide (PAAm) was grafted onto the fibers. In this study, the concentration of the monomer and the UV-exposure time were altered to examine the effects of those variables on fiber hydrophilicity. Results showed lower water contact angle and improved wicking capacity upon modification with PAAm.
Nanomechanical and Nanotack Properties of Polymer Composites
Sarah E. Morgan, Paul J. Jones, Samuel J. Tucker, Jeffrey S. Wiggins, May 2007
Joining and adhesive properties of polymeric composites are of critical importance for emerging applications in the aeronautical, aerospace and marine industries. Traditional macroscopic adhesion testing techniques evaluate macroscopic properties of materials, with limited information on the molecular level processes that control actual performance. Nanomechanical and nanotack evaluations utilizing advanced nanoprobe techniques of polymer/fiber composites reveal differences in performance at the molecular level.
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