Engineering thermoplastics processing

Aromatic polyethers are best characterized by their thermal and chemical stabiUties and mechanical properties. The aromatic portion of the polyether contributes to the thermal stabiUty and mechanical properties, and the ether fiinctionahty faciUtates processing but stiU possesses both oxidative and thermal stabiUty. With these characteristic properties as well as the abiUty to be processed as mol ding materials, many of the aromatic polyethers can be classified as engineering thermoplastics (see Engineering PLASTICS). 

The Hquid monomers are suitable for bulk polymerization processes. The reaction can be conducted in a mold (casting, reaction injection mol ding), continuously on a conveyor (block and panel foam production), or in an extmder (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers and engineering thermoplastics). Also, spraying of the monomers onto the surface of suitable substrates provides insulation barriers or cross-linked coatings. 

Polyurethane engineering thermoplastics are also manufactured from MDI and short-chain glycols (49). These polymers were introduced by Upjohn/Dow under the trade name Isoplast. The glycols used are 1,6-hexanediol and cyclohexanedimethanol. 1,4-Butanediol is too volatile at the high processing temperatures used in the reaction extmsion process. Blends of engineering thermoplastics with TPU are also finding uses in many appHcations... 

MARGOLis, J. M. (Ed.), Engineering Thermoplastics, Marcel Dekker, New York and Basel (1985) Morton-jones, d. h. and Ellis, j. w.. Polymer Products—Design, Materials and Processing, Chapman and Hall, London (1986)... 

The presence of the either linkages is sufficient to allow the material to be melt processed, whilst the polymer retains many of the desirable characteristics of polyimides. As a consequence the material has gained rapid acceptance as a high-temperature engineering thermoplastics material competitive with the poly-sulphones, poly(phenylene sulphides) and polyketones. They exhibit the following key characteristics ... 

Highly aromatic thermoplastic polyesters first beeame available in the 1960s but the original materials were somewhat difficult to process. These were followed in the 1970s by somewhat more processable materials, commonly referred to as polyarylates. More recently there has been considerable activity in liquid crystal polyesters, which are in interest as self-reinforeing heat-resisting engineering thermoplastics. 

Many engineering thermoplastics (e.g., polysulfone, polycarbonate, etc.) have limited utility in applications that require exposure to chemical environments. Environmental stress cracking [13] occurs when a stressed polymer is exposed to solvents. Poly(aryl ether phenylquin-oxalines) [27] and poly(aryl ether benzoxazoles) [60] show poor resistance to environmental stress cracking in the presence of acetone, chloroform, etc. This is expected because these structures are amorphous, and there is no crystallinity or liquid crystalline type structure to give solvent resistance. Thus, these materials may have limited utility in processes or applications that require multiple solvent coatings or exposures, whereas acetylene terminated polyaryl ethers [13] exhibit excellent processability, high adhesive properties, and good resistance to hydraulic fluid. 

The polymer is either produced in a bulk or a solution process. It is among the fastest growing engineering thermoplastics, and leads the market of reinforced plastics with an annual growth rate of 13% ... 

Non-Metallic Materials Numerous engineering thermoplastics have been commercialised including materials such as polyetherether ketone (PEEK) and polyether sulphate (PES) with much improved thermal/chemical resistance. The usage of FRP equipment has increased, and fluoropolymer lining technology/applications have come of age. Of particular interest is the development of stoved, fluoropolymer coating systems for process industry equipment. 

Alkanesulfonates act as an external lubricant in PVC, polystyrene, and engineering thermoplastics. They have a good release effect and assist flow. Addition is in the concentration range between 0.1 and 2.0 parts per 100 parts resin (phr). Because of their low volatility, alkanesulfonates are also used as a processing aid for high-melting engineering thermoplastics. 

Table 17 provides a list of various polysiloxane-poly(aryl ether) copolymers investigated. Depending on the type, nature and the level of the hard blocks incorporated, physical, thermal and mechanical properties of these materials can be varied over a very wide range from that of thermoplastic elastomers to rubber modified engineering thermoplastics. Resultant copolymers are processable by solution techniques and in some cases by melt processing 22,244). 

This review is concerned with the engineering thermoplastic uses of polyamide materials in injection moulding and extrusion applications. Types of polyamides are described, and their key properties are considered. Commercial applications in the automotive, electrical/ electronic, engineering and construction, and packaging industries are discussed. Polyamide processing is... 

Typical additive packages for engineering thermoplastics have been described by Titzschkau [9], such as processing aids for PA, PP, or PET/PBT, three-component additive packages for polyamides and polyesters (nucleating agent, lubricant and process heat stabiliser) and coated copper stabilisers for polyamides. Additive packages or combinations of up to five or more additives are quite common. A typical white window PVC profile formulation comprises an acrylic impact modifier, TiC>2, CaCC>3, calcium stearate, a... 

Since an understanding of the importance of any one process contributing to the failure in thermoplastics and the control over these processes is only partly attainable, a knowledge and understanding of the nature of endurance Hmits is of extreme importance for successful use of plastics, in particular engineered thermoplastics [27]. In terms of the failure type, polymer fracture may occur as a rapid extension of an initial defect, plastic flow of the matter and the thermally activated flow of the macromolecules. In all these cases, however, fracture is a localized phenomenon characterized by a large inhomogeneity of deformations. 

R.J. Kumpf, J.S. Wiggins, and H. Pielartzik, Reactive processing of engineering thermoplastics, Trends Polym. Sci., 3(4) 132-138, April 1995. 

Fluoropolymers. These form one of our oldest and most spectacular families of engineering plastics. Polytetrafluoroethylene was developed by DuPont over two decades ago, and more recently by Allied Chemical, Hoechst, ICI, Pennwalt, and other manufacturers as well. It combines unusually low adhesion and friction, high temperature and flame resistance, excellent electrical properties, and extreme chemical inertness. Its high melting point and melt viscosity make thermoplastic processing extremely difficult, so that many... 

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