Polymer science industrial plastics

Government and University Research. As an industry, plastics engineering has traditionally been driven by the large profits that result from patented processes and materials. As natural offshoots of organic chemistry, however, polymer science and plastics engineering have developed into major fields of study at the academic level. Research into new and improved polymerization reactions and methods has been conducted at many major universities and colleges, and some institutions specialize exclusively in polymer research. 

He found out in 1909 that a resinous plastic substance is formed in this reaction. This substance could be heated and moulded into a shape. Further heating of a substance in the mould sets it in the fine shape. Further heating does not resoften this substance. Baekeland patented this substance and called it Bakelite. Bakelite was the first Synthetic polymer. The industry of Bakelite led to a study and establishment success of polymer science. 

Polymer science and technology have developed tremendously over the last few decades, and the production of polymers and plastics products has increased at a remarkable pace. By the end of 2000, nearly 200 million tons per year of plastic materials were produced worldwide (about 2% of the wood used, and nearly 5% of the oil harvested) to fulfill the ever-growing needs of the plastic age in the industrialized world plastic materials are used at a rate of nearly 100 kg per person per year. Plastic materials with over 250 billion per year contribute about 4% to the gross domestic product in the United States. Plastics have no counterpart in other materials in terms of weight, ease of fabrication, efficient utilization, and economics. 

Szabo, F. 2002. The world plastic industry. International Polymer Science and Technology 29(6) T71-T77. 

The Plasticorder, described as a "torque rheometer" by the supplier, is one version of a practical tool well known and used in the plastics and rubber industries. We believe that our use of the Plasticorder as a polymerization reactor may be unique, and that the instrument is probably not well known in polymer science laboratories, so we felt it appropriate to picture it. Additional detail of the mixing chamber/measuring head and the removable sigma blade rotors is also pictured (see Photographs A, B, and C). 

Up-to-date compendiums on applications of infrared spectroscopy in applied polymer science are as follows. "An Infrared Spectroscopy Atlas for the Coatings Industry" (95) describes techniques, has liberal references to specific methods, and contains high-quality grating reference spectra on paint components and blended compositions. "Atlas of Polymer and Plastics Analysis," 2nd ed., by Hummel and Scholl (96), has issued two volumes Vol. 1, Polymers Vol. 3, on Additives and Processing Aids Vol. 2, on Plastics, Fibers, Rubbers, Resins, is in press. "Infrared Spectra of Plasticizers and Other Additives," 2nd ed., published by The Coblentz Society, Inc., is a high-quality IR reference spectrum collection (97). 

The influence of Herman Mark, the so-called father of polymer science, on the plastics industry still echoes today in a legacy of education and research. His work in the 1920s on the structure of cellulose opened the door for the development of synthetic fibers such as acrylic, nylon, polyester, polystyrene, and PVC. 

University of Rochester, Institute of Optics http / / www.optics.rochester.edu 8080 University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Polymer Science http //www.psrc.usm.edu University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee Strong plastics industry-related seminars, http //www.uwm. edu 80/dept/ccee/... 

Polymer education programmes started at the Singapore Polytechnic in 1967 which were then oriented towards rubber. Today these courses are oriented to plastics reflecting the industry situation. There are several places of learning which offer a range of education programmes at most levels, and or carry out research on polymer science and technology. 

I would like to remind the group of the utility of furfural and furfuryl alcohol in the making of many plastic materials. The furfural industry is based on converting the pentosan fraction of plant materials to furfural. The products available are well known because the technology for doing this chemistry was pioneered by the Quaker Oats Company over 50 years ago. For a more detailed picture of the products, the interested reader should be referred to Volume 7 of the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science Teclmology. 

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