Handbook Of Polymer Blends And Composites

This Handbook is a fundamental reference work on polymer blends, covering all aspects: science, engineering, technology and application. It will appeal to anyone working in the field of blends, researchers as well as engineers. The Handbook is designed to be the source of information on all aspects of polymer blends. To this end the editor has put together an international group of highly respected contributors, each an expert in his chosen subjects. Polymer Blends Handbook, Volume 1 and Volume 2 is an exceptional source of information that will prove invaluable for anyone blending polymers. An&electronic version of the Polymer Blends Handbook by Utracki is available.

This book extensively reviews Polypropylene (PP), the second most widely produced thermoplastic material, having been produced for over 60 years. Its synthesis, processing and application are still accompanied by vigorous R&D developments because the properties of PP are at the borderline between those of commodity and engineering thermoplastics. Readers are introduced to various tacticities and polymorphs of PP, and their effects on structural properties. Further, the book addresses the control of optical properties using nucleants, provides strategies for overcoming the limited cold/impact resistance of PP, examines in detail the effects of recycling, and presents guidelines for the property modification of PPs through foaming, filling and reinforcing with respect to target applications. Special attention is paid to descriptions and models of properties as a function of morphological variables. Last but not least, the book suggests potential practical applications of PP-based systems, especially in the packaging, appliances, building/construction, textile and automotive sectors. Each chapter, written by internationally respected scientists, reflects the current state-of-art in the respective field and offers a vital source of information for students, researchers and engineers interested in the morphology, properties, testing and modeling of PP and PP-based systems. The content is indispensable to the appropriate application of PPs and related composites.

Because it is critically important to manufacture quality products, a reasonable balance must be drawn between control requirements and parameters for improved processing method with respect to plastics additives. An important contribution to the commercial polymer industry, Polymer Blends and Composites is one of the first books to combine plastics additives, testing, and quality control. The book is a comprehensive treatise on properties that provides detailed guidelines for selecting and using blends and composites for applications. A valuable resource for operators, processors, engineers, chemists, the book serves to stimulate those already active in natural polymer composites.

In recent years significant progress has been made in many areas of polymer blend and polymer matrix composite science and technology. This volume comprises a selection of refereed papers which cover the state-of-the-art, and predict future trends in polymer blend and composite research; including established, as well as innovative, applications and new directions for these novel materials. The contents are grouped into five sections: theoretical and experimental studies of manufacturing processes; structure-property relationships; damage mechanics and characterization; fracture and fatigue; and toughening and strengthening mechanisms. The articles present detailed results and new findings concerning these topics. Alltogether they present an authoritative view of recent research in the important fields of polymer blend and composite use. 1. Processing and Manufacturing. 2. Structure-Property Relationships. 3. Damage Mechanics and Characterization. 4. Fracture and Fatigue. 5. Toughening and Strengthening Mechanisms.

The need for writing a monograph on polymer blends and composites became apparent during presentation of material on this subject to our advanced polymers class. Although the flood of important research in this area in the past decade has resulted in many symposia, edited collections of papers, reviews, contributions to scientific journals, and patents, apparently no organized presentation in book form has been forthcoming. In a closely connected way, another strong impetus for writing this monograph arose out of our research programs in the Materials Research Center at Lehigh University. As part of this effort, we had naturally compiled hundreds of references and become acquainted with many leaders in the field of blend and composite research. Perhaps the most important concept stressed over and over again is that engineering materials are useful because of their complexity, not in spite of it. Blends and composites are toughened because many modes of resistance to failure are available. Although such multimechanism processes are diffi cult to describe with a unified theory. we have presented available develop ments in juxtaposition with the experimental portions. The arguments somewhat resemble the classical discussion of resonance in organic chemistry, where molecular structures increase in stability as more electronic configura tions become available.

The Polymer Blends Handbook is a fundamental reference work on polymer blends, covering all aspects: science, engineering, technology and application. It will appeal to anyone working in the field of blends, researchers as well as engineers. The Handbook is designed to be the source of information on all aspects of polymer blends. To this end the Editors have put together an international group of highly respected contributors, each an expert in his chosen subjects.