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.

Processing and characterization of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends

Yottha Srithep, Lih-Sheng Turng, March 2011

Chain extenders blended with recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) improve mechanical properties and moldability.

Biodegradable polymers based on starch and poly(lactic acid)

Tamas Tabi, Jozsef Gabor Kovacs, March 2011

Pre-process drying is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to enhance adhesion between fillers and polymers.

Environmentally friendly polymer composites prepared with cellulose nanocrystals

Vera Maria Wik, Mirta Ines Aranguren, Mirna Alejandra Mosiewicki, March 2011

Novel polyurethanes obtained from vegetable oil exhibit appreciably improved mechanical performance with inclusion of just 0.5% by weight of nanosized cellulose crystals.

Nanocomposites of new biodegradable polyesters and polyesteramides

Alfonso Rodriguez-Galan, Luis Javier del Valle, Jordi Puiggali , Maria Teresa Casas, Laura Morales-Gamez, Lourdes Franco, March 2011

Polymers are easily prepared by bulk polycondensation based on metal-halide salt formation, while crystallization is strongly influenced by incorporation and distribution of silicate nanoparticles.

Polymer blends with improved mechanical properties

Trevor Woods, Ramesh Babu, February 2011

Hydrolytic degradation and elongation properties of polylactic acid can be enhanced by blending with polyhydroxybutyrate.

Recycled polyvinyl chloride as a sustainable solution

Hong Chang , Nidal Abu-Zahra, December 2010

An improved extrusion technique for polyvinyl chloride regrind could be useful to manufacturers, builders, and architects.

Visco-elastic properties of modified poly(lactic acid)/ spruce-wood-flour composites

Adriana Gregorova , Rupert Wimmer, November 2010

Composite mechanical behavior is critically influenced by interfacial compatibility between the filler and polymer matrix.

A unique, high-flow, drapable, soft reprocessable material

Ashok Adur, November 2010

A new pelletizable, reprocessable composition can be converted into a nonwoven material or a fabric suitable for spin bonding.

Freeze-thawed hydrogels for modeling blood vessels

Colin Stanley, Philip Walsh, Austin Coffey, October 2010

Artificial materials that match both the physical dimensions and mechanical properties of biological blood vessels could be useful in biomedical simulation experiments.

Trends in Bio-renewable Thermoplastics Elastomers

Krishna Venkataswamy, October 2010

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have been traditionally compounded and manufactured from raw materials based on fossil fuels. Current trends in marketplace abounds sustainability programs. TPEs are no exception to this trend. In a recent editorial, the authors stated “Through research and application, sustainability can evolve from a catchphrase to a societal one”. More than two decades ago the Brundtland Commission (formerly the World Commission on Environment and Development, WCED), deliberated sustainable development issue and gave a definition of sustainability: “Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Oil-palm fiber as natural reinforcement for polymer composites

Farid Nasir Ani, Aznizam Abu Bakar, Arshad Salema , Azman Hassan, October 2010

The importance of natural fibers as reinforcement or fillers in polymers is increasing, but limitations have prevented them from totally replacing synthetic fibers.

Bioplastics and global sustainability

J. N. Swamy, Balaji Singh, October 2010

Application of bioplastics is in its infancy stage but holds significant promise in developing sustainable plastics for the future.

Synergistic effects on nonisothermal poly(lactic acid) crystallization

Hanwen Xiao, September 2010

The combination of plasticizers and nucleating agents accelerates the crystallization rate of poly(lactic acid).

Reinforced biocomposites with guaranteed degradability in soil

Sigbritt Karlsson, Rosana Moriana , Amparo Ribes-Greus, August 2010

The addition of cotton fibers to a starch-based commercial material maintains its thermal stability and assures its biodegradation.

Degradation behavior of aliphatic biodegradable polyesters

Guoping Chen, August 2010

Structural changes of polyesters during in vitro incubation provide insights into their degradation that could be important for development of biomedical applications.

Predicting starch transformation in twin screw extrusion

Bruno Vergnes, Franoise Berzin, July 2010

Dedicated software makes it possible to predict the change in the intrinsic viscosity of starch.

Nanofillers improve the mechanical properties of recycled polypropylene

Ahmed Elloumi, Alain Bourmaud, Sylvie Pimbert, June 2010

The impact and modulus of polypropylene reinforced with nanocalcium carbonate correlate with morphology, filler level, and the effect of recycling on the resin matrix.