Thermoplastics, being non-linear viscoelastic, impose constraints on testing. End products manufactured from these thermopolastics are often anisotropic and tend to complicate the relationships between laboratory test data and service performance. Mechanical Evaluation Strategies for Plastic Materials explains new testing strategies for providing service-pertinent data within a limited budget. It relates the structure of the tests and the functions that they serve to the intrinsic nature of the mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials.

The authoritative introduction to all aspects of plastics engineering — offering both academic and industry perspectives in one complete volume. Introduction to Plastics Engineering provides a self-contained introduction to plastics engineering. A unique synergistic approach explores all aspects of material use — concepts, mechanics, materials, part design, part fabrication, and assembly — required for converting plastic materials, mainly in the form of small pellets, into useful products. Thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and advanced composites, the four disparate application areas of polymers normally treated as separate subjects, are covered together. Divided into five parts — Concepts, Mechanics, Materials, Part Processing and Assembly, and Material Systems — this inclusive volume enables readers to gain a well-rounded, foundational knowledge of plastics engineering. Chapters cover topics including the structure of polymers, how concepts from polymer physics explain the macro behavior of plastics, evolving concepts for plastics use, simple mechanics principles and their role in plastics engineering, models for the behavior of solids and fluids, and the mechanisms underlying the stiffening of plastics by embedded fibers. Drawing from his over fifty years in both academia and industry, Author Vijay Stokes uses the synergy between fundamentals and applications to provide a more meaningful introduction to plastics. Examines every facet of plastics engineering from materials and fabrication methods to advanced composites Provides accurate, up-to-date information for students and engineers both new to plastics and highly experienced with them Offers a practical guide to large number of materials and their applications Addresses current issues for mechanical design, part performance, and part fabrication Introduction to Plastics Engineering is an ideal text for practicing engineers, researchers, and students in mechanical and plastics engineering and related industries.

The selection and application of engineered materials is an integrated process that requires an understanding of the interaction between materials properties, manufacturing characteristics, design considerations, and the total life cycle of the product. This reference book on engineering plastics provides practical and comprehensive coverage on how the performance of plastics is characterized during design, property testing, and failure analysis. The fundamental structure and properties of plastics are reviewed for general reference, and detailed articles describe the important design factors, properties, and failure mechanisms of plastics. The effects of composition, processing, and structure are detailed in articles on the physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Other articles cover failure mechanisms such as: crazing and fracture; impact loading; fatigue failure; wear failures, moisture related failure; organic chemical related failure; photolytic degradation; and microbial degradation. Characterization of plastics in failure analysis is described with additional articles on analysis of structure, surface analysis, and fractography.

Now in its Third Edition, Plastics is the key text for senior students studying the science and engineering of plastic materials. Starting from microstructure and physical properties, the book covers the mechanical, chemical and electrical properties of plastic materials, and also deals in detail with wider plastics issues that today's engineers and materials scientists need such as manufacturing processes and the design of plastic products. The new edition has been updated to reflect changes in polymer technology and the plastics industry, and the increased knowledge of the mechanical properties of plastics. A new first chapter introduces plastics properties through practical exercises, to help students to see the relevance of more academic chapters. Computer modeling has revealed the mechanics of many types of composites, so the emphasis of chapter 4 has shifted to modeling. Applications, product design and process technology have moved on; consequently the case studies in chapter 14 were updated. A new chapter 15 introduces sport and biomaterials case studies, since increasing numbers of students are enrolled on courses with these emphases. The material has been thoroughly updated, and the principles of polymer structure-property relationships set out more clearly. - Meets latest undergraduate needs for studying polymer properties - Expended coverage of materials selection and shape selection - New teaching case studies plus new material on plastics for use in sport applications and biomaterials - Examination questions to accompany each chapter

Processing techniques are critical to the performance of polymer products which are used in a wide range of industries. Advances in polymer processing: From macro- to nano- scales reviews the latest advances in polymer processing, techniques and materials.Part one reviews the fundamentals of polymer processing with chapters on rheology, materials and polymer extrusion. Part two then discusses advances in moulding technology with chapters on such topics as compression, rotational and blow moulding of polymers. Chapters in Part three review alternative processing technologies such as calendaring and coating, foam processing and radiation processing of polymers. Part four discusses micro and nano-technologies with coverage of themes such as processing of macro, micro and nanocomposites and processing of carbon nanotubes. The final section of the book addresses post-processing technologies with chapters on online monitoring and computer modelling as well as joining, machining, finishing and decorating of polymers.With is distinguished editors and team of international contributors, Advances in polymer processing: From macro- to nano- scales is an invaluable reference for engineers and academics concerned with polymer processing. - Reviews the latest advances in polymer processing, techniques and materials analysing new challenges and opportunities - Discusses the fundamentals of polymer processing considering the compounding and mixing of polymers as well as extrusion - Assesses alternative processing technologies including calendaring and coating and thermoforming of polymers

Thermoplastics, being non-linear viscoelastic, impose constraints on testing which are absent in elastic and plastic materials. End products manufactured from them are often anisotropic, complicating the relationships between laboratory test data and service performance. This new book explains recently developed testing strategies for providing service-pertinent data within a limited budget. It relates the structure of the tests and the functions that they serve to the intrinsic nature of the mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials.