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?
Various topics related to sustainability in plastics, including bio-related, environmental issues, green, recycling, renewal, re-use and sustainability.
Rei-ichi Konishi , Kazushi Yamada , Yasuo Hashimoto , Yew Wei Leong , Tetsuya Tsujii , Hiroyuki Hamada, May 2010
Multi-layered laminated films are widely used as
general packaging materials and thermal lamination is
one of the environmentally friendly techniques since it
does not involve solvents during lamination. The heat
exerted during the heat- sealing process however
could affect the lamination strength of these films. In
this study we focused on the relationship between the
results of pinhole test and the properties of heat sealed
parts.
Rajendra K. Krishnaswamy, Supicha Kridaratikorn, Yelena Kann, Renuka Bhoyar, Stephen McCarthy, Douglass S. Kalika, Patrick Smith, May 2010
The mechanical properties of bio-based, biodegradable poly (hydroxy butanoic acid) or PHB copolymers are known to change considerably over a period of time after their parts are fabricated. This study will focus on the changes in semi-crystalline morphology during this aging process. The semi-crystalline morphology is characterized using the three-phase model (crystalline, mobile amorphous and rigid amorphous phases) and through a variety of experimental probes including thermal analysis, refractometry, x-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR.
Greg Curtzwiler , Keith L. Vorst , Wyatt Brown , J. Singh, May 2010
Thermoformed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) produce trays (clamshells) produced by a large retail supplier using virgin resin were compared to PET clamshells containing 30, 70, or 100% recycled-PET (RPET). Comparisons were made of functional groups, ultravioletvisible (UV-Vis) light absorption, and thermal properties. An increase in the crystallization temperature was observed as RPET increased when compared to virgin PET. This suggests that the crystallization temperature (Tc) may be used as a quantitative indicator for determining the amount of RPET in a plastic composite.
Jun Peng, Yi-Yan Peng, Lih-Sheng Turng, Xiang-Fang Peng, Xiao-Fei Sun, May 2010
Targeted for tissue engineering scaffold applications, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) resins were employed to produce miscible blends by means of melt blending in a thermokinetic mixer (K-mixer). Different volume fractions of PLA and PVA were melt mixed. After water leaching (extraction) of the sacrificial PVA domains, co-continuous morphology development of the blend systems was investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dimensions of the voids occupied by PVA in the blends were measured using an image analysis tool. In addition, the miscibility of these blends was evaluated by thermal characteristic measurements using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was shown that the continuity development and microstructure features of PLA/PVA blends were dependent on the component composition and the miscibility.
Processing undried polycondensates as PET or PA using a melt degassing single screw extruder is a real alternative to the conventional energy- time- and cost-consuming pre-drying process. Due to the industrial demand of processing recycled and low priced materials the moisture content or/and the resin mixture can substantially vary from batch to batch. This leads to a deviant molecular weight degradation and an unsteady final product quality. The paper presents an approach to compensate these variations in the feedstock in a closed-loop control. It is based on the direct influence of the degassing pressure on the moisture evaporation of the melt. The product quality is estimated online in the extrusion process e.g. via melt viscosity and is controlled by the degassing pressure in the extruder.
Processing undried polycondensates as PET or PA using a melt degassing single screw extruder is a real alternative to the conventional energy-, time- and cost-consuming pre-drying process. Due to the industrial demand of processing recycled and low priced materials, the moisture content or/and the resin mixture can substantially vary from batch to batch. This leads to a deviant molecular weight degradation and an unsteady final product quality. The paper presents an approach to compensate these variations in the feedstock in a closed-loop control. It is based on the direct influence of the degassing pressure on the moisture evaporation of the melt. The product quality is estimated online in the extrusion process, e.g. via melt viscosity, and is controlled by the degassing pressure in the extruder.
The management of greenhouse gasses can certainly benefit from better marshalling of our wooded lands. Therefore, our recent research has focused on developing wood-substitute composites without wood in them from natural fibrous materials, e.g., jute, miscanthus, kenaf, wheat straw, and industrial hemp and plate-like hannebachite crystallites. Imaging, DSC, flexural strength and water sensitivity measurements were undertaken on composites formulated from the aforementioned natural fibers. Comparative effects on the mechanical and thermal properties were ascertained.
New family of ENH flame retardant PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) thermoplastic polyester resins developed is aimed at helping electrical/electronics (E/E) manufacturers and suppliers comply with regulations restricting use and disposal of hazardous substances. The non-chlorinated non-brominated resin based on PBT delivers good ductility and strength than other nonhalogen flame-retardant PBT materials as well as electrical properties of standard flame-retardant PBT materials. Some of the resin properties will be discussed in this publication.
Due to rising environmental concerns, the plastic
industry has been seeking bio-plastics that can replace
current plastics. Efforts are continuously being made to
reduce weight and cost without a major compromise to
required properties. Foaming can offer a plastic with
significant weight reduction. There has been research to
evaluate the effects of chemical blowing agents (CBAs)
on wood-fiber plastic composites (WPC). Although
physical blowing agents (PBAs) have a number of
advantages, their effects on WPC have not been fully
investigated. Therefore, this research utilizes N2 and CO2
to analyze their effects on the foaming and mechanical
properties of injection foam molded WPCs.
Jennifer M. Hoffman , Maureen T.F. Reitman , Suresh Donthu , Paul Ledwith, May 2010
A variety of methods can be employed to characterize failure modes of plastics and identify contributing factors. By combining visual and microscopic examination with chemical analysis, the reasons for ductile, brittle, or progressive failure may be determined. This paper provides a comparative analysis based on fractography and spectroscopic analysis of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe samples that failed due to chemical exposure. Chemical degradation and environmental stress cracking failure modes are explored using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR.
Michael Jaffe , George Collins , Anthony J. East , Willis Hammond , Zohar Ophir , Xianhong Feng , Paul Friedhoff, May 2010
Corn (sugars) may be viewed as a chemical
feedstock to produce new monomers
polymers and additives for a broad range of
chemical intensive industries. Corn based
chemicals are attractive because they as
generally regarded as safe (GRAS) are a
renewable resource and can be made readily
available at competitive pricing. Interest is
focused on isosorbide which offers
molecular geometry and chemical
functionality compatible with many existing
commercial chemistries. Applications
ranging from the creation of new polymer
backbones for use as thermoplastics or
thermosets to the identification of low molar
mass compounds that can act as plasticizers
stabilizers or compatiblizers are under
investigation. Of special interest is the
impact of asymmetric reactivity chirality
and controlled stereochemistry in the design
and performance of new cost-effective
structures with commercial potential. As
petroleum becomes more expensive and the
assurance of long range cost-effective
supply questionable creation of alternative
chemistries from renewable resources such a
corn (glucose) becomes more attractive.
Michael Jaffe , George Collins , Anthony J. East , Willis Hammond , Zohar Ophir , Xianhong Feng , Paul Friedhoff, May 2010
Corn (sugars) may be viewed as a chemical feedstock to produce new monomers, polymers and additives for a broad range of chemical intensive industries. Corn based chemicals are attractive because they as generally regarded as safe (GRAS), are a renewable resource and can be made readily available at competitive pricing. Interest is focused on isosorbide which offers molecular geometry and chemical functionality compatible with many existing commercial chemistries. Applications ranging from the creation of new polymer backbones for use as thermoplastics or thermosets to the identification of low molar mass compounds that can act as plasticizers, stabilizers or compatiblizers are under investigation. Of special interest is the impact of asymmetric reactivity, chirality and controlled stereochemistry in the design and performance of new, cost-effective structures with commercial potential. As petroleum becomes more expensive and the assurance of long range, cost-effective supply questionable, creation of alternative chemistries from renewable resources such a corn (glucose) becomes more attractive.
Recent earth environmental concern requires easy
recycle material system and the use of biodegradable
polymer and natural fiber is noticed in composite
materials. In this study jute cloth reinforced SMC was
fabricated. And the effect of water included in jute cloth
was investigated by bending impact and tensile testing.
As a result it was revealed that the dry processing was
very important to apply natural fiber for composite
materials.
Recent earth environmental concern requires easy recycle material system, and the use of biodegradable polymer and natural fiber is noticed in composite materials. In this study, jute cloth reinforced SMC was fabricated. And the effect of water included in jute cloth was investigated by bending, impact and tensile testing. As a result, it was revealed that the dry processing was very important to apply natural fiber for composite materials.
Titanate and zirconate coupling agents as invented by the author generate approximately six ACS CAS abstracted works (technical papers, articles and patents) per week. The author will review the literature and update ANTEC attendees on applications in thermoplastics and thermosets with an emphasis on the latest work in nano and green technologies such as biopolymers and landfill biodegradation. For example, investigators Lei, Yong; Wu, Qinglin; Yao, Fei; Xu, Yanjun from the School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA reported: Composites based on recycled high-polyethylene (RHDPE) and natural fibers i.e. pine wood flour and bagasse were made through melt blending and compression molding. The effects of the fibers and coupling agent type/concn. on the composite properties were studied. The use of maleated polyethylene (MAPE) carboxylated polyethylene (CAPE) and titanium-derived mixt. (TDM)-(20% pellet masterbatch of a neoalkoxy pyrophosphato titanate) improved the compatibility between the bagasse fiber and RHDPE and mech. properties of the resultant composites compared well with those of virgin HDPE composites. The modulus and impact strength of the composites had maxima with MAPE content increase. The composites had lower crystn. peak temps. and wider cryst. temp. range than neat RHDPE and their thermal stability was lower than RHDPE.""
Natural fiber-reinforced composites are very attractive due to environmental considerations. There are currently many types of natural fibers that are suitable to be used as reinforcement in polymer composites. In this paper hemp fiber mat was selected to be the reinforcement for unsaturated polyester resin. In order to determine the long-term water resistance of this composite specimens were immersed into hot water.Weight changes of the specimens were recorded with time and their respective mechanical properties were determined through bending tests. A correlation was established between moisture absorption and mechanical performance of the composites.
With the rapid increase in the market for recycled polyethylene from various sources, there is an urgent need to quantify the performance of these materials. Blends of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) were prepared to obtain specific mechanical properties and MFI. The results show that the MFIs had significant effect on the rheological, mechanical and phase morphology characteristics of the various blends.
Walter Michaeli , Ina Michaelis , Joachim Grosse , Matthias von Walter , Erich Wintermantel , Nina Laar, May 2010
The overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is defined as a symptom complex which is characterized with frequent urination, urinary incontinence and a strong, sudden urge to urinate even when the bladder is not full. About 10% of the total population have OAB and it occurs in every age group. Apart from the medical, oral therapy, the so called intravesical instillation is used as well. In order to minimise the numerous side effects of the oral therapy like dry mouth, dizziness or depressions a biodegradable, active agent carrying implant for the intravesical therapy of the OAB was aspired. After a project period of two years a biodegradable, active agent carrying polymer implant could be developed.
Y. W. Leong , H. Inoya , S.F. Aminuddin , B.C. Ogazi-Onyemaechi , H. Hamada, May 2010
The recycling activities related to poly(ethylene terephthalate) PET has been slow since the material is always thought to possess inferior properties when compared to virgin PET. This study involves the development of novel processing methods to significantly enhance the properties of recycled PET (RPET) especially in terms of moisture resistance.This is particularly important especially when RPET is used for further processing that involves heating such as injection molding since the presence of moisture would severely degrade the material. The drying process of RPET pellets would also require at least a few hours which could significantly affect production cycles. The improvement in moisture resistance can be realized through the control of crystallinity and morphological structure of the RPET pellets during compounding and extrusion processes.
In this work the devulcanization of tire rubber crumb was studied by using an industrial scale twin screw extruder. A reasonably high throughput extrusion process has been developed and the effect of processing conditions has been studied. The effects of different screw configurations, screw speed and feed rate on the stability of process have been investigated. Crosslink density and percent of devulcanization of different samples are measured. Curing behavior, tensile strength, and elongation at break of different compounds consisting of blends of virgin rubber with devulcanized crumb have also been evaluated.
84 countries and 60k+ stakeholders strong, SPE
unites
plastics professionals worldwide – helping them succeed and strengthening their skills
through
networking, events, training, and knowledge sharing.
No matter where you work in the plastics industry
value
chain-whether you're a scientist, engineer, technical personnel or a senior executive-nor
what your
background is, education, gender, culture or age-we are here to serve you.
Our members needs are our passion. We work hard so
that we
can ensure that everyone has the tools necessary to meet her or his personal & professional
goals.
Any article that is cited in another manuscript or other work is required to use the correct reference style. Below is an example of the reference style for SPE articles:
Brown, H. L. and Jones, D. H. 2016, May.
"Insert title of paper here in quotes,"
ANTEC 2016 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA May 23-25, 2016. [On-line].
Society of Plastics Engineers
Available: www.4spe.org.
Note: if there are more than three authors you may use the first author's name and et al. EG Brown, H. L. et al.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
