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.
Nanocomposites of HNBR latex and modified clays were prepared by latex blending. The results of x-ray diffraction show that using a reswell technique with trisilanolphenyl POSS with MMT and rubber provides a large d-spacing as well as a mainly exfoliated structure. Modified clay in the latex affords no change in thermal degradation temperature. POSS modified clays successfully provide thermal stability and an intercalated or exfoliated structure when mixed with latex rubber.
This study was carried out to clarify a relationship between moisture absorption fraction and higher-order structure of dry-less recycled PET pellets. Karl Fischer moisture titration, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microscopic Raman spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) were used to characterize the pellets to determine distinct structures that differentiates the dry-less pellets with normal pellets.
William Aquite, Daniel Kasperek, Natalie Rudolph, Tim A. Osswald, May 2012
Manufacturing spherical polymer micropellets has been possible with a new technique that uses air to impose surface disturbances on an extrudate. Observations of experimental results considering properties of the melt are taken as the starting point for a deeper understanding of the behavior of polymer resins of interest in the production of micropellets. Such relationships include aspects of material properties as well as processing conditions.
On September 16, 2011, the President of the United States signed into law the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. This law includes some of the most significant changes to U.S. Patent Law since the early 1950’s, changing the U.S. patent system to a “first to file” system. The Act also introduces procedures, such as post grant review and supplemental examination, and alters existing procedures such as inter-partes re-examination.
Smith Thitithanasarn, Kazushi Yamada, Hiroyuki Nishimura, Hiroyuki Hamada, May 2012
This paper presents the possibility of using natural fiber as reinforcement for engineering thermoplastics composite. Jute mats from waste coffee bag were treated by thermoset resin such as flexible epoxy resin (FE) to improve their thermal resistance prior to compression mold with polycarbonate (PC). The effects of epoxy contents on thermal properties and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated.
Amir Ameli, Davoud Jahani, Peter Ungyeong Jung, Chul B. Park, May 2012
The effects of talc content and injection flow rate on the foaming behavior of injection-molded microcellular polylactide (PLA) were investigated. Cell morphology with a cell size of less than 20 µm and cell density of greater than 108 cells/cm3 was successfully produced. The addition of 5 wt % talc to PLA increased the cell density roughly ten times and decreased the cell size about three times. Also, higher injection flow rate resulted in finer cells with greater density.
Compounding lines that utilize single-screw extruders as the pumping device for pelletization can be severely rate limited if the metering channel of the single-screw machine is not optimized for the process. This paper provides the troubleshooting methodology for solving this type of problem using a case study.
Developing new cost-effective polymer products is challenging in the current competitive marketplace. Electron beam irradiation is a powerful tool used to improve the properties of a wide range of materials, particularly polymers, and has been used to gain a competitive advantage in many successful commercial products. This paper reviews three case studies in the development of new polymer products using electron beam irradiation and the role of the electron beam processor.
W.D. Ding, A. Wong, T. Kuboki, C.B. Park, M. Sain, May 2012
This paper examines the effect of fiber content on the foaming behavior of cellulose nanofiber reinforced polylactic acid biocomposites. The in situ observation of batch foaming processes was conducted by using a high-speed camera. It was found that nanofiber content has a significant effect on the cell nucleation and growth in the composite foams. As the fiber content increased, the cell nucleating power increased and cell growth rate decreased.
A new family of radiation-crosslinkable polyamides has been developed for the North American market. A key component in the offering is technical support for product development. Companies can crosslink the polyamide using their current equipment or that of a contract electron beam processor and replace higher cost thermoplastic resins with the radiation crosslinkable polyamide. This paper discusses the technical advantages and target applications of the radiation crosslinkable polyamide.
Xiaonan Kou, Christopher M. Sahagun, Robert Y. Lochhead, Sarah E. Morgan, May 2012
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was covalently attached to modified carbon nanotube (CNT) surfaces to improve nanotube dispersion. Two types of POSS were attached to multiwall CNTs. TGA, ATR-FTIR and TEM characterization of the CNT-g-POSS hybrids demonstrated covalent bonding of POSS to the CNT surface. POSS- modified CNTs showed homogeneous, stable dispersion in THF.
Youjiro Minami, Tatsuro Ueda, Masahiro Muto, Kazushi Yamada, May 2012
The creep fracture of pipes is evaluated by the applied internal pressure. However, there were some disadvantages such as long testing time, large equipment and careful treatment on the stress rupture test. In this study, the new creep testing method which is simple and accelerated testing was proposed on composite pipes such as multilayer pipes. The results of the fluctuating internal pressure test on multilayer pipes were also described.
Richard James Silverwood, Farhad Sadeghi, Abdellah Ajji, May 2012
Line speeds in vertical form fill seal machine can be greatly increase by using slip agents such as erucamide. The focus of this research was to develop a tool to rapidly characterise the amount of slip agent in a polyethylene film sample. Using a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer, a model of the kinetic of erucamide migration in polyethylene film was developed. This model can further be used to determine one’s erucamide content of a sample polyethylene film.
Crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipes and multilayer pipes of PEX and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) as a high oxygen barrier are used for hot water pipes. The long-term performance of them was evaluated in hot water and air. It was found that the yield stress of PEX and multilayer pipes increased with elapsed time due to crystallization. It was also found that multilayer pipes had a blister at the interface between PEX and EVOH.
Mohamad Reza Barzegari, Nemat Hossieny, Mehdi Keshtkar, Nathali Chapleau, Chul B. Park, May 2012
The extrusion foaming behavior of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with CO2 was evaluated. The foaming morphologies of PET/nanocomposites and PET/chain extenders were also assessed. The foamed extrudates were analyzed for expansion ratio, cell structure, and degree of crystallinity using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Finally, the effect of the die temperature on the cell structure of the PET foam samples was studied.
This study’s purpose was to develop a process for screen printing PVC film with UV-curing ink. PVC film is made with plasticizers that migrate to the surface and reduce ink adhesion. Surface treatments and ink additives were investigated. The study showed for recently manufactured film, poor ink adhesion was a result of incomplete cure. The ink’s high pigment loading impeded penetration of UV radiation. Dilution of the pigment with clear base enabled complete cure
A plastic ratchet-type hose clamp had failed catastrophically while in service, causing water damage. The investigation revealed that the cracking occurred within a relatively short period of time due to creep rupture. Additional testing was performed to substantiate the cause of failure. This paper will focus on the steps used to characterize the mode of failure, and how accelerated testing methods were utilized to predict the life of the part.
Nemat Hossieny, Mohammadreza Nofar, Mohamad Reza Barzegari, Chul Park, May 2012
The hard segments in thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are statistically distributed in the soft matrix phase. This distribution can be changed by processing the TPU material at various conditions such as melt processing or isothermal treatments. Furthermore, the hard segments contribute to the microcrystalline phase in TPUs. In this study, the foaming behaviour of “as received” and “processed” TPUs has been investigated using n-butane as a blowing agent.
Tomokazu Sasaki, Yuqiu Yang, Toshikazu, Kazushi Yamada, May 2012
This study is to clarify the adhesion mechanism as target. Various surface treatments on the metal were carried out to investigate its effect on the adhesion property of insert moldings. It is found that the surface roughness of metal could be changed by the chemical agent with different ratio of nitric hydrofluoric acid and immersion time. Optimum surface treatment exists to obtain high adhesion property between polymer and metal.
Thin polymer films are under consideration as materials for use in roof top mounted solar thermal collectors. The fracture behavior of these materials is of particular concern for this application. When exposed to UV light, film degradation can lead to reduced fracture toughness. In this paper, a method for evaluating the fracture behavior of thin films as a function of the extent of degradation is described. Pilot study results for fracture behavior of polyethylene film are presented.
Kim McLoughlin Senior Research Engineer, Global Materials Science Braskem
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Kim drives technology programs at Braskem to develop advanced polyolefins with improved recyclability and sustainability. As Principal Investigator on a REMADE-funded collaboration, Kim leads a diverse industry-academic team that is developing a process to recycle elastomers as secondary feedstock. Kim has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell. She is an inventor on more than 25 patents and applications for novel polyolefin technologies. Kim is on the Board of Directors of SPE’s Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division, where she has served as Education Chair and Councilor.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Gamini has a BS and PhD from Purdue University in Materials Engineering and Sustainability. He joined Penn State as a Post Doctorate Scholar in 2020 prior to his professorship appointment. He works closely with PA plastics manufacturers to implement sustainability programs in their plants.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Tom Giovannetti holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tulsa and for the last 26 years has worked for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Tom started his plastics career by designing various injection molded products for the chemical industry including explosion proof plugs and receptacles, panel boards and detonation arrestors for 24 inch pipelines. Tom also holds a patent for design of a polyphenylene sulfide sleeve in a nylon coolant cross-over of an air intake manifold and is a Certified Plastic Technologist through the Society of Plastic Engineers. Tom serves on the Oklahoma Section Board as Councilor, is also the past president of the local Oklahoma SPE Section, and as well serves on the SPE Injection Molding Division board.
Joseph Lawrence, Ph.D. Senior Director and Research Professor University of Toledo
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Dr. Joseph Lawrence is a Research Professor and Senior Director of the Polymer Institute and the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization at the University of Toledo. He is a Chemical Engineer by training and after working in the process industry, he has been engaged in polymers and composites research for 18+ years. In the Polymer Institute he leads research on renewably sourced polymers, plastics recycling, and additive manufacturing. He is also the lead investigator of the Polyesters and Barrier Materials Research Consortium funded by industry. Dr. Lawrence has advised 20 graduate students, mentored 8 staff scientists and several undergraduate students. He is a peer reviewer in several journals, has authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications and serves on the board of the Injection Molding Division of SPE.
Matt Hammernik Northeast Account Manager Hasco America
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Matt Hammernik serves as Hasco America’s Northeast Area Account Manager covering the states Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He started with Hasco America at the beginning of March 2022. Matt started in the Injection Mold Industry roughly 10 years ago as an estimator quoting injection mold base steel, components and machining. He advanced into outside sales and has been serving molders, mold builders and mold makers for about 7 years.
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How to reference articles from the SPE Library:
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, ISBN: 123-0-1234567-8-9, pp. 000-000.
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.
