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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Technical Article Briefs

The effectiveness of carbon nanofiber-based nanocomposites

Todd H. Hubing, Amod A. Ogale , Byron Villacorta, September 2012

Heat treating carbon nanofibers improves their electrical conductivity, which in turn increases the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of their linear low-density polyethylene nanocomposites.

Determining the aspect ratio of graphene nanocomposites by indirect measurements

Carola Esposito Corcione , Fabrizio Freuli, Alessia L'Erario, Alfonso Maffezzoli, August 2012

The measurement of the engineering properties of nanocomposites provides information about the average degree of graphene filler dispersion.

Computerized optimization substantially reduces profile extrusion die design time

Johann Sienz, Holger Ettinger, John Pittman, August 2012

A new computational design optimization scheme applied to a complex unplasticized-polyvinyl chloride window profile die delivers high-quality design while truncating design time by 85%.

Antioxidant effects of natural compounds on green composite materials

Eduardo Fages, Rafael Balart, Teodomiro Boronat, Jose Manuel Espana Giner , Rosana Moriana, August 2012

Naturally-occurring antioxidant compounds can improve the thermal resistance of a bio-composite, increasing the degradation temperature of the material by as much as 130%.

Masterbatch method to generate polyethylene graphene oxide nanocomposites

Ali Chaudhry, Vikas Mittal, August 2012

Solution mixing of a graphene oxide filler with chlorinated polyethylene compatibilizers, followed by melt mixing of the masterbatch with high-density polyethylene, generated graphene-based nanocomposites.

Enhancing gas-barrier properties of polymer-clay nanocomposites

Hanna Joseph Maria, Sabu Thomas , A. P. Meera, August 2012

The volume fraction of constrained polymer regions correlates with a reduction in permeability.

Toward more controlled, nanoscale barrier layers in packaging

Jurkka Kuusipalo, Petri Johansson, David Cameron, Philipp Maydannik, Tommi Kaariainen, Kimmo Lahtinen, August 2012

Understanding adhesion between polymer and alumina helps scale up atomic layer deposition production processes.

Carbon nanotube/polymer composite preparation with improved mechanical properties

Donald Baird, Chen Chen, August 2012

A supercritical carbon dioxide green technique was used to disperse entangled carbon nanotubes and led to improved mechanical properties in a carbon nanotube/polymer composite.

Coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the preparation of nanocomposite films

El Mokhtar Essassi, Mounir El Achaby, Abouelkacem Qaiss, August 2012

Purely ß-polymorph poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite films with improved tensile properties were prepared using polyvinylpyrroli- done-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes as nanofillers.

Stronger eco-film for food packaging and medicine

Kaojin Wang, Ru Zhang, Qian Li, Yaming Wang , Changyu Shen, August 2012

Exfoliating a copolymer poly(hydroxyalkanoate) with an organoclay increases its tensile modulus.

Towards improved impact performance of injection molded plastic parts

Carlos Nuno Barbosa, Julio C. Viana, Markus Franzen, Ricardo Simoes, August 2012

We explored the mechanical response of complex polypropylene-based systems during an instrumented falling weight impact test to evaluate the effect of various processing parameters.

Polyamide 6-wheat straw composites: degradation kinetics

Leonardo C. Simon, Yasaman Amintowlieh , Amirpouyan Sardashti, August 2012

The degradation kinetics of wheat straw fillers and their polyamide 6 composites, an environmentally friendly alternative to polyamide 6, are analyzed for use in the manufacture of industrial parts.

Predicting layer rearrangement in extrusion

Jovani Favero, Lori Holmes , Tim Osswald, August 2012

Numerically simulating and predicting viscoelastic materials' secondary flow behaviors could help optimize extruder designs and process parameters.

Starch-filled polymer composites

Sanghoon Kim, August 2012

A new method produces robust, degradable polymer composites at room temperature from starch and alkyl cyanoacrylate.

Optimum dispersion of single-walled nanotubes in epoxy resins

Cihan Uzunpinar, Mirna A. Mosiewici, Maria L. Auad, July 2012

Mechanical and chemical treatment of carbon nanotubes can improve their ability to disperse uniformly in epoxy resins and, as a result, alter the rheological behavior of the composite materials.

Supercritical carbon dioxide as an effective tool for composite preparation

Ayse Karakecili , Aysegul Arikan, July 2012

Microporous chitosan and chitosan/nanosized hydroxyapatite particle composite scaffolds can be successfully prepared using a supercritical carbon dioxide-assisted process for tissue engineering applications.

Injection molding without the drying

Sun Kyoung Kim, Sang-Won Woo, Yeong-Eun Yoo, July 2012

Using a gas counter to raise the pressure during injection molding of plastics prevents blisters forming by suppressing evaporation of water and cuts costly drying steps from the manufacturing process.

Plasma helps polyethylene weather the sandstorm

Abdelmajdjid Dobbi, Noureddine Hassini, July 2012

Treating polyethylene with an atmospheric plasma alters its surface properties and may lead to improved resistance to abrasion by sand winds.

Aluminum phosphinate/epoxy flame retardant composites: the influence of the alkyl group

Shao-jun Cai, Ji-yan Liu, Xue-quing Liu, July 2012

Aluminum diethylphosphinate and aluminum methylethylphosphinate are efficient flame retardants for epoxy resin with different dispersion and polymer matrix compatibility.

Polymer foams with tailored electrical conductivity using multiwall carbon nanotubes

Vassilis Kostopoulos, Antonios Vavouliotis, Myrto Matzakou, Athanasios Baltopoulos, Nikolaos Athanasopoulos, July 2012

Controlling the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and the foam microstructure is the key to developing lightweight polymer foams with electrical conductivity for various applications.