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.

The SPE Library is just one of the great benefits of being an SPE member! Are you taking advantage of all of your SPE Benefits?

Not an SPE member? Join today!

Use % to separate multiple keywords.

Search SPE Library

Conference Proceedings

Fracture of a TPE Catheter

P.R. Lewis, May 2001

A nylon/polyether TPE catheter fractured during the final stages of childbirth in a British hospital. The catheter supplied an epidural anaesthetic to the patient, and part of the tip was left in her spinal fluid. She sued the hospital and manufacturer. The catheter showed brittle behaviour, and research showed that it was probably caused by a combination of UV and gamma radiation of the polymer, initiating chain degradation. ESEM of the fracture surface showed no cut marks, as suggested by another expert witness. FTIR microscopy showed traces of esters near the fracture, confirming degradation.

Meeting Global Trends for Automotive Coatings

Charles D. Storms, May 2001

The paper deals with both macro trends in the way global business is done today and specific trends in functional and decorative coatings. Today's economics and system trends are driving unified products, universal quality, one-performance criteria, shortened life cycles, and local production for supply and technical service. Alliances are used to gain additional resources and to reduce overall R&D costs. The goals and benefits of Alliances are described. Plastics substitution is driving new applications for coatings. Global performance and appearance trends will influence these new applications.

Heat Transfer Decorating: Past - Present - Future

Keith Hillestad, May 2001

This paper will provide a close look at how and why heat transfers are being used as a way to decorate plastic components. I will start with the history of heat transfers and then look at the advancements in the manufacture and application of heat transfers. I will review the tooling, supplies, and equipment required for successful application of heat transfer programs and discuss the various industries that they are used in today.

Use of Selective Laser Sintering for the Function Testing of Snap-Fits

Anthony F. Luscher, May 2001

Snap-fits have been a popular method of mechanically attaching plastic parts. Design of snap-fits, however, is still a very high-risk activity since testing cannot be done until first article parts are molded. This paper presents the authors experience in using SLS prototype parts for the design and testing of snap-fit assemblies. Examples cited include an automotive fuel system component, an optical lens housing, and two novel snap-fit topologies. The success and limitations of these efforts are discussed as well as typical experimental data.

The Early Use of Process Simulation to Optimize the Wall Thickness of Blow Molded Plastic Parts

Peter Gust, Olaf Bruch, May 2001

The variable method of extrusion blow molding is widely used for the production of plastic hollow bodies. The primary target of the paper is the early and complete use of computer aided techniques in advance for the development of new commodities. The use of the new tool PreBlow" for the calculation of realistic wall thickness distributions using machines under recognition of different wall thickness adjustment methods will show realistic simulations. Conclusions are provided together with industrial examples."

Plastic Material Modeling for Vehicle Crash Simulation Using LS-DYNA

Xinran (Sharon) Xiao, May 2001

In commercial codes, the modeling of plastic materials lags behind compared to that of many other materials. As a result, engineers have been using material models developed for metal to model plastic materials. This paper discusses the stress-strain behavior of thermoplastics relevant to crash simulation, examines the plastic material modeling capability of a commercial code LS-DYNA and presents needed model enhancements.

Controlling Balanced Molding through New Hot Runner Manifold Designs

John P. Beaumont, Kevin Boell, May 2001

Shear induced variations created during flow results in variations between parts produced in many of today's conventional geometrically balanced hot manifold designs. Understanding of these shear imbalances has led to new design strategies which address these variations and provide both uniform filling and uniform material conditions to each cavity.

Graphic Film Inserts for Molding

Jeff Applegate, May 2001

There are many methods to decorate plastic films. As an overview, I will highlight most of the methods used to decorate plastics in post mold operations and in mold operations.

Film Finishing Part II: Use of Multi-Layer Films in Finishing Technologies

Thomas M. Ellison, May 2001

Part I of this two part series addresses the background of film finishing, its status and the strategic potential for the technology. Part II is concerned with the materials and processes used in multilayer film production. Film application methods are reviewed from an overview perspective.

Micro-Photometric Inline Particle Monitoring in Flowing Melt (TSE)

M. Stephan, M. Stintz, A. Rudolph, U. Blankschein, May 2001

A unique particle sensing system will be presented based on a special micro-photometric principle. The final objective is to achieve inline / realtime informations about developing and final stage of particle dimensions in flowing polymer melts. The performance of the new sensor prototytype PMP 690 adapted to a twin screw extruder (TSE, ZSK40-type) will be demonstrated by extrusion mixing of different model glass bead types (particle diameters and volume concentrations) into polystyrene melt.

Do You Want Some Salsa with Those Chips?

Bruce M. Mulholland, May 2001

In the world of coloring plastics, there has been an apparent decline in the understanding and application of color technology. This is particularly noticeable the farther down and away from the source of the colored product you go. Retirements, downsizing, consolidations and other factors have contributed this knowledge base loss. This paper looks at this issue and what we can do to build it back up.

How Social and Cultural Influences Affect Automotive Design, Styling and Decoration

Larry DeBow, Edward Assad, May 2001

A discussion of how social and cultural influences in fashion, architecture, interior and product design affect automotive design, styling and decoration, and how these influences are brought to reality.

Developing a System to Activate a Post-Molding Blowing Agent in the Application Field

Alicyn M. Haney, Kate L. Miller, May 2001

This experiment creates a process which allows injection molded parts to be foamed during assembly applications, resulting in optimal airtight sealing properties at the plastic interface.

Modification of Epoxies for Low Friction

Witold Brostow, Patrick E. Cassidy, Haley E. Hagg, Magdalena Jacklewicz, Pablo E. Montemartini, May 2001

The morphology, elastic modulus, and friction properties of a commercial epoxy resin + fluorinated poly(aryl ether ketone) (12F-PEK) system have been studied. The system was cured at 24°C and 70°C. We achieved significant friction lowering, namely 30% less than the value for plain epoxy, at the 12F-PEK concentration of only 10% after curing at 24°C. By contrast, after curing at 70°C, an increase in both static and dynamic friction is observed.

Correlating Creep Data with High Temperature Tensile Testing

W. Scott Miller, May 2001

Obtaining accurate creep data can be time consuming when the material supplier does not publish it. A faster method of predicting creep behavior could be a benefit when designing plastic products that will encounter long term loading. This experimental study will examine the feasibility of using elevated temperature tensile testing data as a means for predicting the tensile creep behavior of general-purpose acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Injection molded specimens will undergo tensile testing at elevated temperatures for comparison to the respective tensile creep curves.

The Effects of Directional Molecular Orientation on Tensile Stress and Elongation of Polypropylene Film

Lucas Warren Mellinger, May 2001

Highly oriented polymer dogbone samples were tensile tested at different angles to the machine direction to determine how tensile stress at yield and the percent elongation at yield is affected by the alignment of molecules. Theoretically, as the angle from machine direction increases, the tensile strength at yield will decrease. It is also expected that as the angle from machine direction increases, the strain will decrease. These effects are important in determining how the same material can have different mechanical properties.

Optimization of the Pultrusion Process Using Thermodynamic Analysis

Matthew J. Heidecker, May 2001

In the pultrusion process, line speed is the primary measurement for process optimization. With the process being continuous, the fastest speed with no defects is seen as the production goal. Before optimal line speed can be determined, the amount of time required for commencement of the reaction must be obtained. Performing a thermodynamic analysis of the die is the first step in achieving this goal. Creating a computer simulation of this process using the results of the thermodynamic analysis is the objective of this research.

The Recycling of Thermoset Materials into Thermoplastic Composites

David D. Camlin, Matthew J. Heidecker, Sarah M. Reynolds, May 2001

Thermoset process scrap costs companies millions of dollars annually. Specific thermoplastics could benefit from the addition of recycled thermoset material. The incorporation of thermoset regrind into thermoplastic material would provide a viable alternative for the thermoset scrap that is currently sent to the landfills.

Developing Techniques for Fabricating Aluminum Molds with Cast-In Passages

Nathan Mitchell, Kate Milller, May 2001

This paper will explain the development of a new method for heating and cooling rotational molds with cast in passages. The goal is to develop a technique for manufacturing these molds that is cost competitive with conventional methods while maintaining the same ease of fabrication and common timeline. The mold will be used in conjunction with a hot oil rotational mold machine built at Penn State University-The Behrend College, Erie, PA.

Verification of Parison Sag and Swell with CAE Simulation Software

Michael D. McCullough, Charles A. Heid, May 2001

Parison sag and die swell are the most theoretical part of the extrusion blow molding industry. Both factors affect the wall thickness of the parison, and will add variation to the molded part. This study is part of ongoing research at Penn State Erie. After correlating data, a comparison will be drawn between CAE calculations and the actual extruded parison data. This research will quantify the parison sag and swell, and demonstrate the need to focus on parison geometry to yield accurate blow molding simulation results.