Polyester Films

This volume presents a comprehensive review of key aspects of polyester film technology, ranging from first principles to practical applications Bringing together world-class experts to review the state-of-the-art of key materials and processing elements of polyester film technology, Polyester Films covers a wide range of topics with direct utility to students, practitioners, business managers and researchers, in academia and industry. Topics covered in this volume include survey of optical and physical properties, microlayer coextrusion, polyester ionomers, polyester blends, biomedical applications and recycling . In particular, the text focuses on novel design and application of polyester films, such as those used in the production of flat panel displays, flexible electronics, and barrier films. The overriding objective of the book is to scope the multitude of options available to material and product designers in manipulating the properties of polyester films to meet specific performance and product criteria. These options include synthetic modifications (copolymerization), physical enhancements (blending), and process upgrades (tenter-frame changes, coextrusion, and coating). Edited by two highly qualified material scientists with extensive experience in academia and industry, Polyester Films covers topics such as: Historical review of polyester film technology Overview of physical performance and applications of key polyester films, especially PET and PEN Synthetic options available for manipulating the structure and properties of polyesters, with special focus on polyester ionomers Main blending options available to enhance the performance of commodity polyesters Rheo-optical properties of polyester films and corresponding testing methodology Micro-layer coextrusion technology as applied to modify the performance of polyester films Bio-medical applications Polyester recycling, with special focus on upcycling With an interdisciplinary approach covering the performance of real-life products and components, Polyester Films is an essential resource for researchers and engineers in academia and industry working in physics, material science, chemistry and process engineering. This volume should also be invaluable for graduate students and early-career researchers in similar fields.

Flexible films are defined as being planar forms of plastics, which may be thick enough to be self-supporting but thin enough to be flexed, folded and/or creased without cracking. Films comprise around 25 per cent of all plastics used worldwide, around 40 million tons, and are thus a massive market sector. Commodity plastics dominate, with polyethylene and polypropylene together accounting for around 34 million tons. This is an expanding area with increased demand each year particularly in the developing regions of the world and with a move from rigid to flexible packaging. There are many material types used in films from single layer polymers to multilayer structures with tie layers and copolymers. Multilayers permit custom adaptation of material properties from barrier to strength. Technology, such as the orientation of polypropylene, has produced better properties and more valuable materials. High performance plastics are also being used in applications such as telectronics. There are details of the main suppliers including mergers and capacity. coextrusion, casting, extrusion coating, extrusion laminating and metallising. Blown extrusion was the first process used to make films of polyethylene. These processes have advantages and disadvantages depending on the material type in use, the width and thickness of film required. Films are mainly used in packaging for foodstuffs, but there are also substantial market segments for medical, electronic, automotive and construction applications. Specific applications include decorative wrap, form-fill-seal, blood bags, flexible printed circuits, bed sheeting, diapers, and in-mould decorating of car parts (to replace painting and provide a more durable surface coating). Carrier bags and garbage bags are big markets, with imports to Europe; there are environmental concerns about the use of plastic bags and these are discussed in the report. geomembranes and similar applications. PE and PP are the main materials used in packaging films. PET is primarily used in magnetics, optics and telectronics. PVC is found in consumer goods and medical applications, while PVB is mainly used in automotive and construction applications as glazing protection. Multimaterial films account for around 7 million tons of the films produced, with around 95 per cent of this going into packaging applications. These are just some of the examples listed in this market report. Europe and North America each account for about 30 per cent of the total world consumption of plastic films. The plastic films supply structure and individual company information are summarised in the second half of this market report on Plastic Films in Europe and the Rest of the World.

Plastic Films, HDPE and Thermoset Plastics are now an accepted part of the industrial and domestic scenes but this growth has been comparatively recent. Plastic films are typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh over a longer period of time. Plastic wrap, typically sold on rolls in boxes with a cutting edge, clings to many smooth surfaces and can thus remain tight over the opening of a container without adhesive or other devices. The past several years have seen numerous plastic films developed for the packaging industry, the most used today being polyethylene. Cast polypropylene film, like polyethylene film is unoriented (not stretched), but it was found that an improved film could be obtained by orientation (stretching the cast in one or more directions). Biaxial orientation is the process whereby the continuous cast film or sheet of plastic is heated up to brings it to a temperature that makes it stretchable. BOPP film possesses superior tensile strength, flexibility, toughness, shrink ability, good barrier and optical characteristics. The use of polyethylene terephthalate film is increasing considerably in recent years in videos audio magnetic tapes, computer tapes, photo and X ray films, power capacitors, insulation tapes and metalling for artificial zari. High density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high density (PEHD) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. The major applications of HDPE are in the manufacturing of containers, pipes, house wares, toys, filament, woven sacks, film, wire and cable insulation. HDPE is lighter than water, and can be moulded, machined, and joined together using welding (difficult to glue). Thermoset, or thermosetting plastics are synthetic materials that strengthen during being heated, but cannot be successfully remolded or reheated after their initial heat forming. This is in contrast to thermoplastics, which soften when heated and harden and strengthen after cooling. Thermoplastics can be heated, shaped and cooled as often as necessary without causing a chemical change, while thermosetting plastics will burn when heated after the initial molding. Additionally, thermoplastics tend to be easier to mold than thermosetting plastics, which also take a longer time to produce (due to the time it takes to cure the heated material). Some of the astonishing fundamentals of the book are salient features of contemporary, technology and current research, three basic processes: advances, modern polyethylene, processes using high yield catalysts, solution polymerization processes, polyolefins, low density polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, physical and chemical properties, manufacturing methods, extrusion of film, slit die extrusion (flat film extrusion), comparison of blow and cast film processes, water cooled polypropylene film, calendaring, solvent, casting, casting of regenerated cellulose film, orientation of film, expanded films, plastics net from film, unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, thermoset polyurethanes, guidelines and theories in compounding polyurethane elastomers, compounding for thermoset polyurethane elastomers, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, thermoplastic polymers etc. The present books offer an up to date overview of the processing of plastic films, HDPE and thermoset plastics. This book is suitable for entrepreneurs, researchers, professionals, technical institutions etc.

This classic, essential guide to the science of photography has been fully updated throughout with all-new material on digital photography.

A single comprehensive resource for the design, application, testing, and maintenance of rotating machines Filling a long-standing gap in the field, Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines covers, in one useful volume, all aspects of the design, deterioration, testing, and repair of the electrical insulation used in motors and generators. Lucidly written by leading experts, this authoritative reference provides both historical background important to understanding machine insulation design and the most up-to-date information on new machines and how to select insulation systems for them. Coverage includes such key topics as: Types of rotating machines, windings, and rotor and stator winding construction Evaluating insulation materials and systems Stator winding and rotor winding insulation systems in current use Failure mechanisms and repair Testing and monitoring Maintenance strategies Detailing over 30 different rotor and stator winding failure processes and reviewing almost 25 different tests and monitors used to assess winding insulation condition, Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines will help machine users avoid unnecessary machine failures, reduce maintenance costs, and inspire greater confidence in the design of future machines.