Polymer Processing (EBT 322/3)

This book addresses traditional polymer processing as well as the emerging technologies associated with the plastics industry in the 21st century and combines engineering modeling aspects with computer simulation of realistic polymer processes. This book provides a polymer processing background to engineering students and practicing engineers. It is a three-part textbook written for a two-semester polymer processing series in mechanical and chemical engineering. The first and second part of the book are designed for a senior- to graduate-level course, introducing polymer processing, and the third part is for a graduate course on simulation in polymer processing. Throughout the book, many applications are presented in form of examples and illustrations. These also serve the practicing engineer as a guide when determining important parameters and factors during the design process or when optimizing a process. Examples are presented throughout the book, and problems and solutions are available.

Plastics processing is a major industrial activity, which yields components and systems for a wide range of industries, such as packaging, automotive, aeronautics, electrical and electronic, sports and leisure, toys, civil and construction, and agriculture. Most plastic components are manufactured either by extrusion or injection moulding, but other techniques such as blow moulding and thermoforming are also important. The productivity of these technologies is dictated by the equipment design, choice of the operating conditions and physical properties of the polymer system. This book discusses the recent scientific developments on the optimisation of manufacturing engineering problems and applies them to polymer processing technologies.

This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date account of the solid phase processing of polymers with particular emphasis on the production of oriented polymers in the form of fibers, films, and solid sections, including rods, sheets, and tubes. It explains how such oriented materials can be produced by a wide range of techniques, including tensile drawing, die drawing, ram extrusion, and hydrostatic extrusion. It also discusses how the development of molecular orientation and structural changes lead to improvements in properties, especially in mechanical properties. This book forms a useful bridge between polymer engineering and polymer physics. It serves as a valuable aide to the experienced polymer scientists/technologists and a useful introduction to those entering a very challenging and exciting area.

Nanotechnology is progressing very rapidly. This book focuses on carbon nanotubes and nano clays and explore their importance and roles in composites. Hence, the chapters address processing, rheology, mechanical properties and their interaction with fiber composites. Written by renowned researchers, this book is a collection of nine chapters which embrace the role of nano particles in composites. The first three chapters focus on the use of carbon nanotubes in composites. Chapter 4 explores the interaction between traditional fiber composites and the use of nano particles in terms of benefits and property enhancement in addition to the processing of such materials. Chapter 5 discusses in detail the rheology of suspensions that contain nanofibers and how one can modify existing models to describe their flow behavior. Chapters 6 through 9 address nano clay composites.