Processing Thermoplastics

Standard thermoplastic processing techniques can be used to fabricate FEP. Thermal degradation must be avoided, and a homogeneous stmcture and good surface quaUty must be maintained. 

Thermoplasticity. High molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) can be molded, extmded, or calendered by means of conventional thermoplastic processing equipment (13). Films of poly(ethylene oxide) can be produced by the blown-film extmsion process and, in addition to complete water solubiUty, have the typical physical properties shown in Table 3. Films of poly(ethylene oxide) tend to orient under stress, resulting in high strength in the draw direction. The physical properties, melting behavior, and crystallinity of drawn films have been studied by several researchers (14—17). 

Several stabilizers are useful in minimizing oxidative degradation during thermoplastic processing or in the bulk soHd. Phenothiazine, hindered phenohc antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene, butylatedhydroxyanisole, and secondary aromatic amines in concentrations of 0.01—0.5% based on the weight of polymer, are effective. 

Thermoplastic Processing. Poly(ethylene oxide) resins can be thermoplasticaHy formed into soHd products, eg, films, tapes, plugs, retainers, and fillers (qv). Through the use of plasticizers (qv), poly(ethylene oxide) can be extmded, molded, and calendered on conventional thermoplastic... 

As the author pointed out in the first edition of this book, the likelihood of discovering new important general purpose materials was remote but special purpose materials could be expected to continue to be introduced. To date this prediction has proved correct and the 1960s saw the introduction of the polysulphones, the PPO-type materials, aromatic polyesters and polyamides, the ionomers and so on. In the 1970s the new plastics were even more specialised in their uses. On the other hand in the related fields of rubbers and fibres important new materials appeared, such as the aramid fibres and the various thermoplastic rubbers. Indeed the division between rubbers and plastics became more difficult to draw, with rubbery materials being handled on standard thermoplastics-processing equipment. 

The polymer melts at 216°C and above this temperature shows better cohesion of the melt than PTFE. It may be processed by conventional thermoplastics processing methods at temperatures in the range 230-290°C. Because of the high melt viscosity high injection moulding pressures are required. 

All three types of material have now been available for some years and it is probably also true that none have yet realised their early promise. In the case of the thermoplastic elastomers most of the commercial materials have received brief mention in earlier chapters, and when preparing earlier editions of this book the author was of the opinion that such materials were more correctly the subject of a book on rubbery materials. However, not only are these materials processed on more or less standard thermoplastics processing equipment, but they have also become established in applications more in competition with conventional thermoplastics rather than with rubbers. 

At the present time, doped ICPs are not normally capable of being processed like normal thermoplastics. Processes usually Involve high-pressure moulding of finely powdered polymers under vacuum or an inert gas. However, modification of some ICPs with, for example, alkyl or alkoxy side groups may produce soluble, and thus more tractable, polymers. 

F Molding processes, all thermoplastic processes Chemical apparatus, typewriter cases, bags, luggage shells, auto trim... 

A wide variety of thermoplastics have been used as the base for reinforced plastics. These include polypropylene, nylon, styrene-based materials, thermoplastic polyesters, acetal, polycarbonate, polysulphone, etc. The choice of a reinforced thermoplastic depends on a wide range of factors which includes the nature of the application, the service environment and costs. In many cases conventional thermoplastic processing techniques can be used to produce moulded articles (see Chapter 4). Some typical properties of fibre reinforced nylon are given in Table 3.2. 

However, the relaxation process is rather slow whereas thermoplast processing calls for almost instantaneous cooling of the melt after molding and due to this fact the chain structure is not restored. From this it follows that in molding a conducting polymer composite the cooling of the melt should have a speed comparable to the speed of restoration of the filler secondary structure, otherwise the conductivity of the polymer composite will be reduced. 

Example of a Thermoplastic Processing Heat-Time Profile Cycle... 

Properties shown also apply to some polyesters formulated for thermoplastic processing by injection molding... 

P-plastomers provide a unique combination of ease of processing, such that conventional thermoplastic-processing routines and arid equipment can be adapted to this polymer as weU as for a final fabricated product that is elastic. This combination of properties leads to the easy fabrication of elastic materials such as fibers and films, which traditionally have only been made inelastic by the use of thermoplastics. This advance opens the pathway to the introduction of desirable elastic properties to a host of fabrication processes very different from either the conventional rubber-processing equipment or the conventional rubber products, such as tires. P-plastomers and their fabricated products are not only soft, but also elastic. 

Thus, the increasing application of the various intrinsic properties of biopolymers, coupled with the knowledge of how such properties can be improved to achieve compatibility with thermoplastics processing, manufacturing, and end-use requirements, and has fueled technological and commercial interest in biopolymers. 

Thermoplastic processing, 10 178-179 of poly(ethylene oxide) resins, 10 684 Thermoplastic properties... 

Table 1.13 Linked processing costs of some thermoplastic processes ...

Figure 2.9. Market shares of the main thermoplastic processing methods 42...

Globalization promotes the transfer of general-purpose thermoplastic processing from Europe or America to Asia. 

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