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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Recycling

Various topics related to sustainability in plastics, including bio-related, environmental issues, green, recycling, renewal, re-use and sustainability.

Bionanocomposite foams with strong dimensional stability

Yottha Srithep, Shaoqin Gong, Lih-Sheng Turng, Srikanth Pilla, Alireza Javadi , Craing Clemons, July 2011

Microcellular injection molding can be used to fabricate lightweight, tough, and cost-effective biodegradable polymer composites.

More cost-effective, superior biodegradable food packaging

Vimal Katiyar , Hemant Nanavati, July 2011

A new catalyst complex enables a precursor polymer nanocomposite to yield a high-molecular-weight, highly crystalline poly(lactic acid)-clay nanocomposite through solid-state polymerization.

Mixed monolayers of biodegradable polymers and an organo-modified clay

Atsuhiro Fujimori, July 2011

Ultrathin hybrid films form highly-ordered layered structures and 2D lattices of long alkyl chains extending from the montmorillonite surface.

A new platform for creating versatile nonwoven mats

Caroline Schauer , Marjorie Austero, June 2011

Materials suitable for filtration, sensing, and other applications can be made from composite mats prepared by electrospinning crosslinked chitosan with carbon black.

Structure and mechanical properties of polymer blends incorporating waste PET

Ahmad Arefazar, Somayeh Lashgari, Soheila Lashgari , Somayyeh Mohammadian Gezaz, June 2011

Adding a compatibilizer to blends of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer and recycled engineering plastic results in better mixing as well as products with enhanced properties.

A GREEN PROCESS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF MESOPOROUS SILICA MATERIALS

Honghu Dai, Daoxing Dai, Jintao Yang, Yunguo Zhou, Zhengdong Fei, Feng Chen, Mingqiang Zhong, May 2011

In this paper, mesoporous silica and functionalized silicas were prepared by a green template, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. Three silane coupling agents, 3-triethoxysilylpropyl- amine (APTES), -methylacryloyl oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MAPTMS) and N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (AEAPTMS) were used for modification on pore surface. The characters of synthesized silicas were investigated in detail. The results showed that controllable pore diameters, narrow pore size distributions, high surface area and pore volume were achieved. The PAMAM template can be feasibly removed by using water extraction.

A NOVEL POLY (LACTIC ACID) BASED WATERBORNE POLYURETHANE

Naoko Shinozawa, Hirotoshi Kizumoto, Naoko Oda, May 2011

In the past few decades, Bio-plastics of plant origin and biodegradable plastics, and emulsions containing no organic solvent have drawn growing attentions as general environmentally friendly materials. Poly (lactic acid) based polyurethanes self-emulsified in 100% water were synthesized. The particle sizes of some of the emulsions were fine (less than 100nm) and they were stable for 6 months under 5oC storage condition. The low Tg sample showed good biodegradability. In this report, result of the polymerization and the emulsification, and the characteristic of the obtained emulsions were described.

A STATISTICAL STUDY OF THE COMPATIBILITY AND CURING OF DEVULCANIZED RUBBER AND POLYPROPYLENE

Prashant Mutyala, May 2011

The usage of waste tire rubber crumb as a dispersed phase in a thermoplastic matrix has been a topic of study for a long time. Inspite of using compatibilizers the properties achieved using polypropylene (PP) and waste ground rubber tire (GRT) crumb composites remained inferior. Devulcanized rubber (DR) being more relatively similar to virgin rubber is supposed to perform better than GRT and hence should be a better material for commercializing. This paper presents a statistical analysis of compatibility between DR and PP and also studies the effectiveness of a sulphur cure system in compatibilization.

BIMODAL POLYSTYRENE/PARTICLE FOAM BY EXTRUSION FOAMING

Cailiang Zhang, Bin Zhu, L. James Lee, May 2011

Extrusion foaming using supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) as the blowing agent is an economically and environmentally benign process. However, it is difficult to control the foam density and maintain the thermal insulation performance. In this study, the extrusion foaming process of bimodal polystyrene foams was investigated by using CO2 as the blowing agent and water as the co-blowing agent. Compared to the extruded foam without water as co-blowing agent, the bimodal foams exhibit better thermal insulation property and compressive performance.

BIODEGRADATION OF POLY (HYDROXY BUTANOIC ACID) COPOLYMERS

Xiudong Sun, May 2011

Biodegradable plastics have attracted much attention in the last decade, not only because they can divert waste from landfill, but also because the biodegradable functionality meets the requirement of many applications. Poly (hydroxy butanoic acid) or PHB copolymers is one such class of plastics. This paper will review the biodegradability of these polymers in various environments including soil, fresh water, seawater, compost and anaerobic digesters. Testing methods and variables influencing biodegradation will also be discussed.

BIODEGRADATION OF POLY (HYDROXY BUTANOIC ACID) COPOLYMERS

Xiudong Sun, May 2011

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.

AUTOCLAVABILITY OF HIGH HEAT POLYCARBONATE RESINS FOR HEALTHCARE APPLICATIONS

Srinivas Siripurapu, Xiaoyu Sun, Scott Davis, John McCann, May 2011

Medical applications in healthcare market most often require multiple use or reuse of the instrument. Autoclave sterilization is one of the most common methods to effectively clean the instrument before reuse. To understand the capability of newly developed high heat Lexan* XHT resins in autoclave applications, mechanical property retention including tensile, flexural and practical impact properties were evaluated after multiple autoclave cycles at both 120?øC and 134?øC. These new class of high heat Polycarbonates offer better performance in comparison to conventional polycarbonates at high sterilization temperatures.

BARRIER PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYGLYCOLIC ACID FOR UN-ORIENTED AND ORIENTED FILMS

Daisuke Ito, Kazuhisa Takatsuji, May 2011

Measurement of oxygen permeability of biodegradable polyglycolic acid (PGA) un-oriented amorphous and crystallized films, and oriented films showed superior values versus general barrier materials. The effect of orientation and crystallization was investigated, showing that oxygen permeability was dependent upon the polymer's free volume and its degree of crystallinity. By stretching an un-oriented amorphous film, PGA chains became highly oriented, resulting in increased temperatures of glass transition and tan?? peak. PGAƒ??s carbon dioxide barrier was tested using PET/PGA multilayer bottles, with 1 and 3wt% PGA bottles showing 1.5 and 2.5 times better gas barrier, respectively, versus a PET monolayer bottle.

EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF USED MATERIALS FOR PLASTIC RECYCLE

Hiroyuki Nishimura, May 2011

This paper describes the evaluation of mechanical test results of compounded used polyethylene (PE) pipes and plastic materials for recycle. A compounding technology of used PE pipes for gas distribution and waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles using a compatibilizer was firstly studied. Then the other combinations of used plastic materials and new resins were also investigated for material uses and high-performance polymer alloys.

BIO-COMPOSITES OF SESBANIA HERBACEA PLANT FIBERS/POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (PVA): EFFECT OF CHEMICAL RETTING

Shailesh Vidhate, Kevin Stevens, Brian Ayer, Allen Michael, Nandika D'Souza, May 2011

The natural cellulose fibers used in this study with properties suitable for polymer composite application were obtained from sesbania herbacea plant stem by chemical retting method. The objective of this work is to study the effect of retting method on morphology and mechanical properties of the sesbania fibers and its composites with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The retting was done by using different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology and thermo mechanical testing was done to study the effect of NaOH treatment on the properties of fibers and its composites with PVA.

GREEN MANDATES OPENING UP A NEW SALES CHANNEL AND GROWTH POTENTIAL FOR MATERIALS COMPANIES

Susan Ward, May 2011

Audience members will learn the following: › Overview of the six green mandates and the opportunities they create for materials companies › Discuss which technologies are currently winning government contracts and why › Identify where the money is being spent currently and trends for future spending › Review best practices in how materials companies can access to those funds to grow their business

IMPROVING THE POROSITY OF POLYPROPYLENE/POLYSULFONE MEMBRANES

Vicki Flaris, May 2011

Compatibilized polypropylene/polysulfone membranes were made using two environmentally-friendly processes. One way was through uniaxially stretching and another through biaxially stretching films. This paper will compare the improvements in mechanical properties obtained by both methods as well as compare interfacial tension measurements. Understanding the chemistry and location of the functional polyolefins is critical to explaining these improvements.

BIODEGRADATION OF COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC SNACK BAGS WITH METALLIZED COATING PER ASTM D-5338 TEST METHOD

Joseph Greene, May 2011

Biodegradable and compostable plastic materials that are used as snack bags demonstrated biodegradation in a laboratory compost environment per ASTM D-5338 test method. PLA-based compostable plastic, Kraft paper and cellulose paper degraded at least 90% in 120 days and met the degradation time requirement in the ASTM D-5338 standard. LDPE bag did not meet the degradation requirement in the ASTM standards. PLA-based snack bag met the phytotoxicity requirement of ASTM D-6400 for healthy plant response in the compost soil. Lastly, PLA-based degraded samples and other compostable degraded samples did not leave residuals of lead or Chromium in the compost soil.

BIO-PLASTIC SHEETS FROM MBM PROTEINS

Sam Lukubira, Amod Oqale, May 2011

The processability of meat-and-bone-meal (MBM) proteins via thermal routes was investigated. Batch compounding and compression molding were used to determine optimal compositions and processing parameters. The sheets were studied for their water vapor permeability, mechanical properties and environmental aging effects. The relative humidity (RH) of the ambient air played a significant role in the processing of the compounded protein.. Sheets were formed at 40-50% RH. As expected, mechanical properties of the sheets were also found to be moisture sensitive. Particle size of MBM raw material was also found to significantly affect the texture and mechanical properties of sheets.