Worldwide, extrusion lines successfully process more plastics into prod ucts than other processes by consuming at least 36 wt% of all plastics. They continue to find practical solutions for new products and/ or prob lems to meet new product performances. This book, with its practical industry reviews, is a unique handbook (the first of its kind) that covers over a thousand of the potential combina tions of basic variables or problems with solutions that can occur from up-stream to down-stream equipment. Guidelines are provided for maxi mizing processing efficiency and operating at the lowest possible cost. It has been prepared with an awareness that its usefulness will depend greatly upon its simplicity and provision of essential information. It should be useful to: 0) those already extruding and desiring to obtain additional information for their line and/ or prOVide a means of reviewing other lines that can provide their line with operating improvements; (2) those processing or extruding plastics for the first time; (3) those consider ing going into another extrusion process; (4) those desiring additional information about employing the design of various products more effi ciently, with respect to both performance and cost; (5) those contemplat ing entering the business of extrusion; (6) those in new venture groups, materials development, and/ or market development; (7) those in disci plines such as nonplastics manufacturers, engineers, designers, quality control, financial, and management; and (8) those requiring a textbook on extrusion in trade schools and high schools or colleges."

The polyurethane industry is among the fastest growing, with polyurethanes used in consumer as well as industrial sectors. Waterborne polyurethanes (WPUs) exhibit many advantages over conventional volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based polyurethanes and have emerged as an environmentally friendly alternative. WPUs offer an opportunity to use sustainable raw materials to produce environmentally sustainable polymers, particularly, polyols derived from vegetable oils. Eco-Friendly Waterborne Polyurethanes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications provides state-of-the-art knowledge of the synthesis, application, and property enhancement of WPUs. Covers various types of eco-friendly materials and technologies used to synthesize WPUs Presents an overview and applications of WPUs in several advanced research areas Provides fundamentals of synthetic processes and their chemistries for specific applications Elaborates on advanced approaches used to convert renewable resources into polymers Offers new direction to scientists, researchers, and students to better understand the chemistry, technologies, and applications Written for polymer chemists, materials scientists, and other researchers and industry, this book serves as a comprehensive reference for readers interested in the development and application of sustainable polymers.

Durability and Reliability of Polymers and Other Materials in Photovoltaic Modules describes the durability and reliability behavior of polymers used in Si-photovoltaic modules and systems, particularly in terms of physical aging and degradation process/mechanisms, characterization methods, accelerated exposure chamber and testing, module level testing, and service life prediction. The book compares polymeric materials to traditional materials used in solar applications, explaining the degradation pathways of the different elements of a photovoltaic module, including encapsulant, front sheet, back sheet, wires and connectors, adhesives, sealants, and more. In addition, users will find sections on the tests needed for the evaluation of polymer degradation and aging, as well as accelerated tests to aid in materials selection. As demand for photovoltaics continues to grow globally, with polymer photovoltaics offering significantly lower production costs compared to earlier approaches, this book will serve as a welcome resource on new avenues.

Discusses the latest results in academia and industry on green composites. Existing machinability problems like low processability and reduction of the ductility are addressed and discussed in relation to use of adhesion promoters, additives or chemical modification of the filler to overcome these problems. Recent industrial efforts to minimize the environmental impact, e.g. biodegradable polymer matrix, renewable sources complete the approach.

The title of this volume implies a progression of sorts from species of molecular size to a product described on the basis of continuum prop erties. The difference in approach from the standpoint of molecular be havior, on the one hand-more the forte of chemists-and from the standpoint of large-scale properties, on the other-more the province of chemical engineers and materials scientists-represents a severe cultural divide, but one with much potential for creative input from both sides. Chapter 1 of this volume attempts a broad survey of trends toward the synthesis of large, well-defined molecular systems with interesting physical, chemical, or material properties. Review articles with more de tailed treatments are emphasized. In Chapter 2, Newkome and Moore field summarize work on synthesis of /I cascade" molecules. Next, Denti, Campagna, and Balzani describe the synthesis of assemblies with con nected metal-containing chromophore units which transmit electrons or electronic energy in defined ways. In Chapter 4 Wuest describes the con struction of hydrogen-bonded organic networks, and in Chapter 5 Michl defines a molecular-level construction set. Finally, Jaszczak points out how nature's attempts over geological time spans are emulated by recent human synthetic activity in the fullerene arena, through the appearance of various morphologies of natural graphite. The book concludes with a method for describing fractal-like mole cules, and an index based on the method for appropriate compounds described in the text."

Volume 2 of the Handbook of Colloid and Interface Science is a survey into the theory of dispersions in a variety of fields, as well as characterization by rheology. It is an ideal reference work for research scientists, universities, and industry practitioners looking for a complete understanding of how colloids and interfaces behave in the areas of materials science, chemical engineering, and colloidal science.

Few scientific developments in recent years have captured the popular imagination like the subject of'biodegradable' plastics. The reasons for this are complex and lie deep in the human subconscious. Discarded plastics are an intrusion on the sea shore and in the countryside. The fact that nature's litter abounds in the sea and on land is acceptable because it is biodegradable - even though it may take many years to be bioassimilated into the ecosystem. Plastics litter is not seen to be biodegradable and is aesthetically unacceptable because it does not blend into the natural environment. To the environmentally aware but often scientifically naive, biodegradation is seen to be the ecologically acceptable solution to the problem of plastic packaging waste and litter and some packaging manufacturers have exploited the 'green' consumer with exaggerated claims to 'environmentally friendly' biodegradable packaging materials. The principles underlying environmental degradation are not understood even by some manufacturers of 'biodegradable' materials and the claims made for them have been categorized as 'deceptive' by USA legislative authorities. This has set back the acceptance of plastics with controlled biodegradability as part of the overall waste and litter control strategy. At the opposite end of the commercial spectrum, the polymer manufactur ing industries, through their trade associations, have been at pains to discount the role of degradable materials in waste and litter management. This negative campaign has concentrated on the supposed incompatibility of degradable plastics with aspects of waste management strategy, notably materials recycling."

Smart materials are the way of the future in a variety of fields, from biomedical engineering and chemistry to nanoscience, nanotechnology, and robotics. Featuring an interdisciplinary approach to smart materials and structures, this second edition of Artificial Muscles: Applications of Advanced Polymeric Nanocomposites has been fully updated to thoroughly review the latest knowledge of ionic polymeric conductor nanocomposites (IPCNCs), including ionic polymeric metal nanocomposites (IPMNCs) as biomimetic distributed nanosensors, nanoactuators, nanotransducers, nanorobots, artificial muscles, and electrically controllable intelligent polymeric network structures. Authored by one of the founding fathers of the field, the book introduces fabrication and manufacturing methods of several electrically and chemically active ionic polymeric sensors, actuators, and artificial muscles, as well as a new class of electrically active polymeric nanocomposites and artificial muscles. It also describes a few apparatuses for modeling and testing various artificial muscles to show the viability of chemoactive and electroactive muscles. It presents the theories, modeling, and numerical simulations of ionic polymeric artificial muscles' electrodynamics and chemodynamics and features current industrial and medical applications of IPMNCs. By covering the fabrication techniques of and novel developments in advanced polymeric nanocomposites, this second edition continues to provides an accessible yet solid foundation to the subject while stimulating further research. Key features: Fully up to date with the latest cutting-edge discoveries in the field Authored by a world expert in the subject area Explores the exciting and growing topic of smart materials in medicine Mohsen Shahinpoor is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maine and a leading expert in artificial muscles.

This book details the use of conducting polymers and their composites in supercapacitors, batteries, photovoltaics, and fuel cells, nearly covering the entire spectrum of energy area under one title. Conducting Polymers for Advanced Energy Applications covers a range of advanced materials based on conducting polymers, the fundamentals, and the chemistry behind these materials for energy applications. FEATURES Covers materials, chemistry, various synthesis approaches, and the properties of conducting polymers and their composites Discusses commercialization and markets and elaborates on advanced applications Presents an overview and the advantages of using conducting polymers and their composites for advanced energy applications Describes a variety of nanocomposites, including metal oxides, chalcogenides, graphene, and materials beyond graphene Offers the fundamentals of electrochemical behavior This book provides a new direction for scientists, researchers, and students in materials science and polymer chemistry who seek to better understand the chemistry behind conducting polymers and improve their performance for use in advanced energy applications.

Volume 1 of the Handbook of Colloid and Interface Science is a survey of the theory of colloids in a variety of fields, as well as theircharacterization by rheology. It is an ideal reference work for research scientists, universities, and industry practitioners looking for a complete understanding of how colloids and interfaces behave.

This book presents a comprehensive overview on origin, structure, properties, modification strategies and applications of the biopolymer lignin. It is organized into four themed parts. The first part focuses on the analysis and characterization of the second most abundant biopolymer. The following part is devoted to the biological aspects of lignin such as biosynthesis and degradation. In the third part, chemical modification strategies and the preparation of composites as well as nano- and microparticles are discussed.The final part addresses the industrial application of lignin and its derivatives, as well as lignin materials. The usage for synthesis of biofuels, fine chemicals and in agriculture and food industry is covered. This book is a comprehensive source for researchers, scientists and engineers working in the field of biopolymers as well as renewable materials and sources.

Fluoropolymer Additives, Second Edition provides practical information on this group of additives, along with their applications and proper and safe handling. Chapters cover how commercial additives have been updated, providing a starting point where readers can begin the process of selection of additives for their own applications. Fully updated sections on applications provide the readers with a step-by-step description of the techniques necessary to select and incorporate these additives in various products. This book is the only practical guide available on the selection and use of fluoropolymer additives. It will help readers optimize existing fluoropolymer applications and implement new initiatives. In recent years, the application of fluoropolymer additives has expanded significantly, with even the meaning of 'fluoropolymer additives' expanding from the relatively narrow definition of PTFE powder fillers to a wide variety of fluoropolymer elastomers used as processing aids for plastics processing techniques in extrusion, injection molding, and film blowing. In addition, fluropolymer additives are being increasingly used in inks, lubricants, and coatings.

Engineered composites materials display superior properties to pristine materials. Glass fibres have been used for years in the production of light weight composites. This book is a much needed update as to the processing methods and technologies present in the manufacturing of GFRP. Coverage of machining, cutting, tools, and thermal loads are discussed. Ideal for researchers in academia and industry.

Smart Polymers and Their Applications, Second Edition presents an up-to-date resource of information on the synthesis and properties of different types of smart polymers, including temperature, pH, electro, magnetic and photo-responsive polymers, amongst others. It is an ideal introduction to this field, as well as a review of the latest research in this area. Shape memory polymers, smart polymer hydrogels, and self-healing polymer systems are also explored. In addition, a very strong focus on applications of smart polymers is included for tissue engineering, smart polymer nanocarriers for drug delivery, and the use of smart polymers in medical devices. Additionally, the book covers the use of smart polymers for textile applications, packaging, energy storage, optical data storage, environmental protection, and more. This book is an ideal, technical resource for chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, mechanical engineers and other professionals in a range of industries.

Foams are gas filled integral structures in which the gas is finely dispersed throughout acontinuouslyconnected solid phase. The bulk density is usually substantially lower than that of the solid component, and for the foams which form the focus for this book the volume fraction of the gas phase is considerably greater than 0.5 and in most instances in excess of 0.9. Many ofthe materials encountered in every day experience, such as bread, plants and trees, structural materials for buildings, comfort materials for domestic and automotive seating, shock absorbers or car bumpers and materials for noise control, have one thing in common - the cellular nature of their physical structure. Whyare thesestructuressoimportantin the naturaland man-made world? The reasons are both technical and commercial. From a technical viewpoint cellular materials offer: 1. high specific stiffness and strength - making them suitable for structural applications; 2. closeto idealenergymanagement - hencetheir useinthermalandacoustic insulation, vibration damping, acoustic absorption and shock mitigation; and 3. comfort - hence their use for domestic and automotive seating.

The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science.The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics.Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist.Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned.Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students

Inorganic and Composite Fibers: Production, Properties, and Applications provides a comprehensive review on the development, production and application of modern inorganic and composite fibers. Particular emphasis is placed on current production processes, parameters and finishing and functionalization methods for improving their properties and the problems associated with the testing of fibers. Fibers covered include carbon, glass and basalt fibers, metal fibers, such as copper and steel, fibers coated with silver or gold, and nitinol. In addition to pure inorganic fibers, the book looks at organic fibers with a high level of inorganic content, such as cellulosic fibers. Including contributions from leading experts from universities, research institutes, and producing companies, this book assists materials scientists and engineers in the composites, automotive, textile and medical industries to more efficiently and effectively select fibers for a range of different applications areas.

The Effect of UV Light and Weather on Plastics and Elastomers, Fourth Edition, provides critical data on the effect of UV light and weathering on plastics and elastomers, enabling engineers, designers and R&D professionals to select the right materials when developing plastics products for a range of industries and applications. This information will also support academic researchers and scientists in developing polymeric materials for advanced applications.

Polymer Composites with Functional Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications reviews the latest research in the area of polymer nanocomposites and functionalized nanoparticles, providing an introduction for those new to the field, and supporting further research and development. The book helps researchers and practitioners better understand the key role of nanoparticle functionalization for improving the compatibility of inorganic metallic nanomaterials with organic polymers, and for the fabrication of nanostructured materials with special properties. A range of nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes are covered, along with descriptions of the methods of functionalization to support better compatibility with polymer matrices. The book also discusses the various applications of this technology, including uses in electronics and the medical and energy industries.

Polymer-Based Multifunctional Nanocomposites and Their Applications provides an up-to-date review of the latest advances and developments in the field of polymer nanocomposites. It will serve as a one-stop reference resource on important research accomplishments in the area of multifunctional nanocomposites, with a particular emphasis placed on the use of nanofillers and different functionality combinations. Edited and written by an expert team of researchers in the field, the book provides a practical analysis of functional polymers, nanoscience, and nanotechnology in important and developing areas, such as transportation engineering, mechanical systems, aerospace manufacturing, construction materials, and more. The book covers both theory and experimental results regarding the relationships between the effective properties of polymer composites and those of polymer matrices and reinforcements.

PEEK biomaterials are currently used in hundreds of thousands of spinal fusion patients around the world every year. Durability, biocompatibility, and excellent resistance to aggressive sterilization procedures make PEEK a polymer of choice, replacing metal in orthopedic implants, from spinal implants and knee replacements to finger joints and dental implants. The new edition of this authoritative work sees the book expand from 17 chapters to 26 chapters to match the expansion in applications in PEEK-from spinal cages to spinal rods and disc replacements; hip and knee joint replacement; dental; trauma; and sports medicine. New PEEK formulations have been developed incorporating hydroxyapatite, additives to combat infection, and surface grafted polymers to improve lubrication. The book also covers additive manufacturing, which has made significant inroads with PEEK in the past 5 years as well by introducing the prospect of patient-specific implants. Like the 1st edition, the updated Handbook brings together experts in many different facets related to PEEK clinical performance as well as in the areas of materials science, tribology, and biology to provide a complete reference for specialists in the field of plastics, biomaterials, medical device design, and surgical applications. Useful for materials scientists and biomedical engineers, both in industry and academia, the book is a one-stop shop for information on PEEK as a biomaterial-including in-depth coverage of materials properties-while also providing cutting-edge information on applications and combinations of the material.

Polymer-Carbonaceous Filler-Based Composites for Wastewater Treatment serves as the first book to offer a concise treatment of the use of these materials in the treatment of wastewater. It provides a systematic and comprehensive account of recent developments and encompasses novel methods for the synthesis of carbonaceous derivatives-based fillers for polymer composites, their characterization techniques, and applications for the remediation of water contamination. This book seeks to: Introduces novel concepts in wastewater treatment with poly-carbonaceous composites Describes modern fabrication methods and characterization techniques Presents information on processing, safety, and disposal Discusses current research, future trends, and applications Filling the void for a one-stop reference book for researchers, this work includes contributions from leaders in the industry, academia, government, and private research institutions across the globe. Academics, researchers, scientists, engineers and students in the fields of materials and polymer engineering and wastewater treatment will benefit from this application-oriented book.

Non-Thermal Plasma Technology for Polymeric Materials: Applications in Composites, Nanostructured Materials and Biomedical Fields provides both an introduction and practical guide to plasma synthesis, modification and processing of polymers, their composites, nancomposites, blends, IPNs and gels. It examines the current state-of-the-art and new challenges in the field, including the use of plasma treatment to enhance adhesion, characterization techniques, and the environmental aspects of the process. Particular attention is paid to the effects on the final properties of composites and the characterization of fiber/polymer surface interactions. This book helps demystify the process of plasma polymerization, providing a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of plasma technology as they relate to polymers. It is ideal for materials scientists, polymer chemists, and engineers, acting as a guide to further research into new applications of this technology in the real world.

Natural Fiber Reinforced Vinyl Ester and Vinyl Polymer Composites: Characterization, Properties and Applications discusses recent advances on the development, characterization and application of natural fiber vinyl ester and vinyl polymers composites. Various types of vinyl ester and vinyl based polymers, such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), low and high density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) are discussed. Chapters focus on different composite fabrication processes, such as compression moulding, hand lay-up, and pultrusion processes. Key themes covered include the properties and characterization of vinyl ester and vinyl polymers composites reinforced by natural fibers. The effect of fiber treatment and coupling agents on mechanical and physical properties of these materials is also evaluated. In addition to a determination of physical and mechanical properties, studies on thermal, degradation, swelling behavior, and the morphological properties of natural fiber reinforced vinyl ester and vinyl polymer composites is also presented.