This book bridges the technology and business aspects of thermosets, providing a practical guide designed for engineers working in real-world industrial settings. The author explores the criteria for material selection, provides information on material properties for each family of thermosets, and discusses the various processing options for each material type. He explains advantages and disadvantages of using thermosets and composites in comparison to competing materials and assesses cost aspects, enabling the reader to balance out technical and economic constraints when choosing a thermoset and processing technology for a given application.This second edition contains a new section on composites solutions for practical problems, gathering information on trends contributing to the breakthrough of composites in various sectors. Other new sections on specific crosslinking processes, processing trends, machinery and equipment manufacturers, applications, bio-sourced thermosets and natural fibers, and recycling of thermosets and composites are included. Case studies are provided, illustrating many design and production challenges. Furthermore, new market data and information about health and safety will be added. All data is fully updated throughout, with pricing in USD and EUR, and both ASTM (North American) and European standards.Thermosets and Thermoset Composites, Second Edition is the only book that gives in-depth coverage of a wide range of subject matters and markets, yet in brevity and concision in a single volume, avoiding the need of consulting a series of other specialized books. By providing the knowledge necessary for selecting a fabrication process, thermoset material and methods for determining the all important cost of thermoset parts this new edition is an invaluable decision-making aid and reference work for practitioners in a field with growing importance. - Combining materials data, information on processing techniques, and economic aspects, Biron provides a unique end-to-end approach to the selection and use of materials in the plastics industry and related sectors - New material on bio-sourced thermosets, natural fibers, and recycling of thermosets - Concise and easy-to-use source of information and decision-making aid

This book bridges the technology and business aspects of thermoplastics, providing a guide designed for engineers working in real-world industrial settings. The author explores the criteria for material selection, provides a detailed guide to each family of thermoplastics, and also explains the various processing options for each material type. More than 30 families of thermoplastics are described with information on their advantages and drawbacks, special grades, prices, transformation processes, applications, thermal behaviour, technological properties (tenacity, friction, dimensional stability), durability (ageing, creep, fatigue), chemical and fire behaviour, electrical properties, and joining possibilities. Biron explores the technological properties and economics of the major thermoplastics and reinforced thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, and emerging polymers such as polybenzimidazole, Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) and bioplastics. In the second edition, a new section 'plastics solutions for practical problems' provides over 25 case studies illustrating a wide range of design and production challenges across the spectrum of thermoplastics, from metal and glass replacement solutions, to fire retardant plastics and antimicrobials. In addition, Biron provides major new material on bioplastics and wood plastic composites (WPCs), and fully updated data throughout. Combining materials data, information on processing techniques, and economic aspects (pricing), Biron provides a unique end-to-end approach to the selection and use of materials in the plastics industry and related sectors Includes a new section of case studies, illustrating best practice across a wide range of applications and industry sectors New material on bioplastics and sustainable composites

In recent years numerous research papers have been published on the changes in chemical structure and in physical properties of polymers when they are exposed to heat over a range of temperatures. For example, these changes can occur at any time during the injection moulding of the plastic, in the subsequent processing and in its end-use application when exposed to elevated temperatures. Thermal stability is a very important parameter which must be taken into account when selecting polymers whether for their use as constructional or engineering applications or in the packaging of food at high temperatures. The mechanisms by which such changes occur are many and it is important to know what these are and to be able to measure the rate of change of polymer structure and its dependence on temperature and time. Development of an understanding of the mechanisms of thermal degradation will help the chemist to develop materials with better thermal stability. This is particularly important in newer developments in engineering and aerospace. This book reviews in nine chapters the measurement of these properties in the main types of polymers in use today. Numerous techniques are discussed ranging from thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance based methods to pyrolytic techniques such as those based on pyrolysis, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The book is aimed at those engaged in the manufacture of polymers and the development of end-use applications. It is essential that students of polymer science should have a thorough understanding of polymer stability and an additional aim of the book is to help in the development of such an interest.