Plastics, low density

Fibre glass-reinforced plastic. Low-density polyethylene. Source [49]. 

Another chain may attach itself to one of the sites on the primary chain, which is normally occupied by an H atom or a side group, to form a branched polymer. Adding side chains keeps the primary chains from getting close together, which lowers the density and prevents crystallization. This results in a lower glass transition temperature and a softer plastic. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is an example. 

Application of experimental devices allows to perform NDT of products, made out of materials of low density (Al-Mg - alloys, Be, plastics) with high defectoscopic sensitivity up to 0,5 %. Inch-size X-ray vidicons used complete with microfocal X-ray tubes and X-ray image enlargement method allow to obtain resolution up to SO pairs of lines per mm. 

HDPE, high density polyethylene PP, polypropylene EVA, ethylene—vinyl alcohol SMC, sheet-molding compound ERP, fiber-reinforced plastic LDPE, low density polyethylene PE, polyethylene BMC, bulk mol ding compound TPE, thermoplastic elastomer. 

Eoamed polystyrene sheet has exceUent strength, thermal resistance, formabUity, and shock resistance, as weU as low density. It is widely known for its use in beverage cups, food containers, building insulation panels, and shock absorbent packaging. Polystyrene products can be recycled if suitable coUection methods are estabUshed. Eoamed polystyrene sheet can also be easily therm oformed (see Styrene plastics). 

The most important stmctural variables are again polymer composition, density, and ceU size and shape. Stmctural foams have relatively high densities (typically >300 kg/m ) and ceU stmctures similar to those in Figure 2d which are primarily comprised of holes in contrast to a pentagonal dodecahedron type of ceU stmcture in low density plastic foams. Since stmctural foams are generally not uniform in ceU stmcture, they exhibit considerable variation in properties with particle geometry (103). 

The Dynamit-Nobel extmsion process (252) utilizes a volatile plasticizer such as acetone which is injected into the decompression section of a two-stage screw and is uniformly dispersed in the vinyl resin containing a stabilizer. The resulting PVC foam has low density and closed cells. 

Plastic materials represent less than 10% by weight of all packagiag materials. They have a value of over 7 biUion including composite flexible packagiag about half is for film and half for botties, jars, cups, tubs, and trays. The principal materials used are high density polyethylene (HDPE) for botties, low density polyethylene for film, polypropylene (PP) for film, and polyester for both botties and films. Plastic resias are manufactured by petrochemical companies, eg. Union Carbide and Mobil Chemical for low density polyethylene (LDPE), Solvay for high density polyethylene, Himont for polypropylene, and Shell and Eastman for polyester. 

Foaming polystyrene resin prepared by blending with gas deHvers an opaque, low density sheet useful for beverage-bottle and plastic can labels as a water-resistant paper substitute (see Styrene polymers). 

Thickness. The traditional definition of thermal conductivity as an intrinsic property of a material where conduction is the only mode of heat transmission is not appHcable to low density materials. Although radiation between parallel surfaces is independent of distance, the measurement of X where radiation is significant requires the introduction of an additional variable, thickness. The thickness effect is observed in materials of low density at ambient temperatures and in materials of higher density at elevated temperatures. It depends on the radiation permeance of the materials, which in turn is influenced by the absorption coefficient and the density. For a cellular plastic material having a density on the order of 10 kg/m, the difference between a 25 and 100 mm thick specimen ranges from 12—15%. This reduces to less than 4% for a density of 48 kg/m. References 23—27 discuss the issue of thickness in more detail. 

PhenoHc MicrobaUoons appHcations in plastics take advantage of low density, porosity, and surface-to-volume ratio to produce lightweight parts. Probably the most notable example is the syntactic foam. 

Dispersion at temperatures of 90—110°C is a common final step io European mills processiog wax-coated old cormgated containers. Dispersion temperatures less than 90°C are reported to reduce wax particle size to improve pulp drainage properties on paper machines while improving paper strength (45). Dispersion has been used to reduce hot-melt adhesive, plastic coating, and asphalt particle size. These low density particles can then be removed from the pulp by flotation (46). 

Polystyrene. Polystyrene [9003-53-6] is a thermoplastic prepared by the polymerization of styrene, primarily the suspension or bulk processes. Polystyrene is a linear polymer that is atactic, amorphous, inert to acids and alkahes, but attacked by aromatic solvents and chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dry cleaning fluids. It is clear but yellows and crazes on outdoor exposure when attacked by uv light. It is britde and does not accept plasticizers, though mbber can be compounded with it to raise the impact strength, ie, high impact polystyrene (HIPS). Its principal use in building products is as a foamed plastic (see Eoamed plastics). The foams are used for interior trim, door and window frames, cabinetry, and, in the low density expanded form, for insulation (see Styrene plastics). 

Polybutenes enjoy extensive use as adhesives, caulks, sealants, and glaring compounds. They are used as plasticizers in mbber formulations with butyl mbber, SBR, and natural mbber. In linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) blends they induce cling to stretch-wrap films. Polybutenes when modified at their unsaturated end groups with polar fiinctionahty are widely employed in lubricants as dispersants. Blends of polybutene with polyolefins produce semisoHd gels that can be used as potting and electrical cable filling materials. 

Mobile-Bed Scrubbers Mobile-bed scrubbers (Fig. 17-51) are constructed with one or more beds of low-density spheres that are free to move between upper and lower retaining grids. The spheres are commonly 1.0 in (2.5 cm) or more in diameter and made from rubber or a plastic such as polypropylene. The plastic spheres may be solid or hollow. Gas and liquid flows are countercurrent, and the spherical packings are flmdized by the upward-flowing gas. The movement of... 

Plastics also find increasing use in vehicles for both water and air transport. Glass-fibre-reinforced plastic boats are widely used as a result of their economy in manufacture, ease of maintenance, lightness of weight and, for military purposes, antimagnetic characteristics. The non-corrosive nature of plastics also leads to their widespread use in boat fixtures and fittings. In aircraft, plastics are particularly useful on account of their low density. 

Because most plastics may be fabricated in the melt and at quite low temperatures (e.g. 200°C) the energy requirements for processing are low. Since plastics generally have low densities, costs of transportation and general handling are also relatively low. 

The very low density materials (VLDPEs) introduced in the mid-1980s are generally considered as alternatives to plasticised PVC (Chapter 12) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) plastics (see Chapter 11). They have no volatile or extractable plasticisers as in plasticised PVC nor do they have the odour or moulding problems associated with EVA. Whilst VLDPE materials can match the flexibility of EVA they also have better environmental stress cracking resistance, improved toughness and a higher softening point. 

Withdrawn) 1974 AMD 1 Laboratory methods of test for determination of smoke generation charactenstics of cellular plastics and cellular rubber materials. Part 1 Method for testing a 25 mm cube test specimen of low density material (up to 130 kg/metres cubed) to continuous flaming conditions (AMD 7688) dated 15 July 1993. Withdrawn, superseded by BS ISO 5659-2 1994... 

Fig. 11. Effect of polyolefin primers on bond strength of ethyl cyanoacrylate to plastics. All assemblies tested in accordance with ASTM D 4501 (block shear method). ETFE = ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer LDPE = low-density polyethylene PFA = polyper-fluoroalkoxycthylene PBT = polybutylene terephthalate, PMP = polymethylpentene PPS = polyphenylene sulfide PP = polypropylene PS = polystyrene PTFE = polytetrafluoroethylene PU = polyurethane. From ref. [73].

Resins and plastics such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HOPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ... 

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