Understanding Plastics Engineering Calculations

The plastics engineer working on the shop floor in a plastics manufacturing plant often needs quick answers to questions such as why the extruder output is low or whether he can expect better quality product by changing the resin or if the die pressure can be lowered. Applying state-of-the art numerical software to address these issues is time-consuming and costly. Starting from practical design formulas which are easily applicable, and yet take the resin rheology into account, this guide provides answers to these questions quickly and effectively by guiding the user step by step through the computational procedures on the basis of illustrative technical examples. Problems related to melt fracture, homogeneity of the melt, effect of screw geometry on the quality of the melt and the effect of die pressure on the pellet surface and their troubleshooting are only few of the topics among many that are dealt with in detail. All the calculations involved can be handled by pocket calculators and hence can be performed right on the site where the machines are running. This guide is a valuable tool not only to troubleshoot but also to estimate the effect of design and process parameters on the product quality in plastics processing.

The plastics engineer working on the shop floor in a plastics manufacturing plant often needs quick answers to questions such as why the extruder output is low or whether he can expect better quality product by changing the resin or if the die pressure can be lowered. Applying state-of-the art numerical software to address these issues is time-consuming and costly. Starting from practical design formulas which are easily applicable, and yet take the resin rheology into account, this guide provides answers to these questions quickly and effectively by guiding the user step by step through the computational procedures on the basis of illustrative technical examples. Problems related to melt fracture, homogeneity of the melt, effect of screw geometry on the quality of the melt and the effect of die pressure on the pellet surface and their troubleshooting are only few of the topics among many that are dealt with in detail. All the calculations involved can be handled by pocket calculators and hence can be performed right on the site where the machines are running. This guide is a valuable tool not only to troubleshoot but also to estimate the effect of design and process parameters on the product quality in plastics processing.

Although designing machines and dies for plastics processing is routinely done with the help of computer modeling and design programs, the results don't always hold up in industrial application. Therefore, it is essential for the designer to have an understanding of the underlying mathematical concepts and their limitations when working with these programs and/or trying to improve their output. This book presents a summary of the most important formulas and their applications to solve design and processing problems with plastics materials. Numerous practical examples guide the reader step-by-step through the computational routine of designing polymer machinery. The approach is unassuming and very practical to enable every engineer to apply these concepts in their daily work and improve their equipment and stabilize their processes. Contents: - Formulas of Rheology - Thermodynamic Properties - Formulas of Heat Transfer - Designing Plastics Parts - Designing Extrusion Equipment - Designing Injection Molding Equipment.

The first textbook to cover both properties and processing of reinforced and unreinforced plastics to this level. It assumes no prior knowledge of plastics and emphasizes the practical aspects of the subject. In this second edition over half the book has been rewritten and the remainder has been updated and reorganized. Early chapters give an introduction to the types of plastics which are currently available and describe how a designer goes about selection of a plastic for a particular application. Later chapters lead the reader into more advanced aspects of mechanical design and analysis of polymer melt flow. All techniques developed are illustrated by numerous worked examples, and several problems are given at the end of each chapter - the solutions to which form an Appendix.

Design formulas and the mathematical models they yield are widely used in creating today's computer programs for designing machines and industrial dies. However the predictions of these programs do not always agree with the practical results. It is therefore essential that engineers have access to the formulas on which mathematical models are based in order to improve existing computer programs or develop entirely new ones. Plastics engineers in particular need a simple way to search for appropriate equations since they often deal with several different fields of engineering. By drawing together formulas from these fields, this book makes it easier to write computer design programs and to change existing ones in order to obtain a better fit with experimental results. The formulas are classified according to subject: rheology, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and part design. Each chapter covers the relevant relations in a particular field. A separate chapter is devoted to the practical equations for designing extrusion and injection molding equipment. Numerous thoroughly worked-out problems illustrate the use of the formulas.

Plastics Engineering, Fourth Edition, presents basic essentials on the properties and processing behaviour of plastics and composites. The book gives engineers and technologists a sound understanding of basic principles without the introduction of unduly complex levels of mathematics or chemistry. Early chapters discuss the types of plastics currently available and describe how designers select a plastic for a particular application. Later chapters guide the reader through the mechanical behaviour of materials, along with a detailed analysis of their major processing techniques and principles. All techniques are illustrated with numerous worked examples within each chapter, with further problems provided at the end. This updated edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect major changes in plastic materials and their processing techniques that have occurred since the previous edition. The plastics and processing techniques addressed within the book have been comprehensively updated to reflect current materials and technologies, with new worked examples and problems also included. Gives new engineers and technologists a thorough understanding of the essential properties and processing behavior of plastics and composites Presents a great source of foundational information for students, early-career engineers and researchers Demonstrates how basic engineering principles in design, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics may be applied to the properties, processing and performance of modern plastic materials

Addressing the two major unit operations-mixing and extrusion-fundamental toprocessing elastomers and plastic materials, this reference summarizes design equationsthat can be employed effectively in scaling up product performance parameters, andcontains a thorough survey of rheological principles. In addition, the book provides awealth of practical information, relating molecular and compositional properties ofpolymers to processing characteristics and end-use properties so that engineers can selectpolymers suitable for specific equipment as well as products.Polymer Mixing and Extrusion Technology examines viscometric techniquesand demonstrates their importance to product quality assurance ... reviews design-relatedliterature/correlations and calculation procedures for mixing and extrusion ... definesneeds and precision standards for setting up a polymer processing laboratory so thatproduct quality control can be implemented in physical testing and processing research.. . plus more.Illustrated with over 200 diagrams, tables, and photographs that facilitate readers'understanding of the processes, Polymer Mixing and Extrusion Technology isan authoritative source for plastics, polymer, and chemical engineers, manufacturers ofplastics processing equipment, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students in thesedisciplines.

This book provides a simplified, practical, and innovative approach to understanding the design and manufacture of plastic products in the World of Plastics. The concise and comprehensive information defines and focuses on past, current, and future technical trends. The handbook reviews over 20,000 different subjects; and contains over 1,000 figures and more than 400 tables. Various plastic materials and their behavior patterns are reviewed. Examples are provided of different plastic products and relating to them critical factors that range from meeting performance requirements in different environments to reducing costs and targeting for zero defects. This book provides the reader with useful pertinent information readily available as summarized in the Table of Contents, List of References and the Index.