Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic Composites

Disclaimer

Acronyms and Abbreviations

1. Outline of the Actual Situation of Plastics Compared to Conventional Materials

1.1 Polymers: The Industrial and Economic Reality Compared to Traditional Materials

1.2 What Are Thermoplastics, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermosets, Composites, and Hybrids?

1.3 Plastics: An Answer to the Designer’s Main Problems

1.4 Outline of the Technical and Economic Possibilities of Processing

1.5 Environmental Constraints

1.6 The Final Material/Process/Cost Compromise

References

2. The Plastics Industry: Economic Overview

2.1 Overview of the Global Plastics Industry Today and Tomorrow

2.2 Market Shares of the Various Thermoplastic Families

2.3 Market Shares of Composites

2.4 Market Shares for the Main Application Sectors

2.5 Importance of the Various Processing Modes

2.6 Consumption Trends

2.7 The North American Market

2.8 The Western European Market

2.9 The Asian Market

2.10 Structure of the Plastics Processing Industry

2.11 Plastic Costs

2.12 Survey of Main Markets

2.13 The Future: Two Important Issues Linked to Crude Oil: Costs and Drying Up

References

3. Basic Criteria for the Selection of Thermoplastics

3.1 Evaluation of Plastic Properties

3.2 Evaluation of Plastic Structural Properties

3.3 ISO and ASTM Standards Concerning Polymer Testing

3.4 Analysis and Diagnostic Equipment

3.5 Material Selection

3.6 Precision of the Molded Parts

3.7 Schematic Comparison of Thermoplastic and Composite Properties

3.8 Upgrading and Customization of Raw Polymers

4. Detailed Accounts of Thermoplastic Resins

4.1 Polyethylene or Polythene

4.2 Polypropylene

4.3 Other Polyolefins

4.4 PO and Nonpolyolefin Copolymers

4.5 Chlorinated Polyethylene

4.6 Polyvinyl Chloride

4.7 Chlorinated PVC (PVC-C or CPVC)

4.8 Polyvinylidene Chloride

4.9 Other Vinyl Polymers

4.10 Polystyrene (PS, SB, and SMA)

4.11 ABS and Methylmethacrylate–Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene

4.12 SAN, Acrylate Rubber-Modified Styrene Acrylonitrile (ASA), Acrylonitrile–EPDM–Styrene (AES or AEPDS), and Acrylonitrile Chlorinated Polyethylene Styrene

4.13 Polyamides or Nylons (PA)

4.14 Thermoplastic Polyesters (PET, PBT, PETG, PCT, PTMT, PCTG, PEN, PCTA, and PTT)

4.15 Acrylics (PMMA, PMI, SMMA, and MBS)

4.16 Polycarbonates

4.17 Polyoxymethylene, Polyacetal, Acetal, or Polyformaldehyde (POM)

4.18 Polyphenylene Oxide and Polyphenylene Ether

4.19 Fluorinated Thermoplastics: Fully Perfluorinated Thermoplastics (PTFE or TFE, PFA, FEP), Copolymers (ETFE), Partially Fluorinated (PVDF, PVF), Chlorofluoroethylene (PCTFE), and Copolymer (ECTFE)

4.20 Cellulosics (CA, CAB, and CP)

4.21 Polysulfone, Polyarylsulfone, Polyethersulfone, and Polyphenylenesulfone

4.22 Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)

4.23 Polyetheretherketones, Polyetherketones, and Polyaryletherketones

4.24 Polyetherimide

4.25 Polyamide-imide

4.26 Polyimides

4.27 Liquid Crystal Polymers

4.28 Polybenzimidazole

4.29 Alloys

4.30 Thermoplastic Elastomers

4.31 Biosourced Thermoplastics

4.32 Thermoplastics More or Less Directly Derived from Natural Raw Materials

4.33 Conventional Polymers Synthesized from Biosourced Chemical Bricks

4.34 Hyperbranched, Dendrimers, Star-Branched, and Multiarm Polymers

References

5. Thermoplastic Processing

5.1 Molding Thermoplastics

5.2 Extrusion and Connected Processes

5.3 Calendering

5.4 Coating

5.5 Foaming

5.6 Composite Processing

5.7 Curing of Thermoplastics

5.8 Secondary Processing

5.9 Finishing

5.10 Assembly of Fabricated Parts

5.11 Repair Possibilities: A Significant Thermoplastic Advantage for Large Parts

5.12 Annealing

5.13 Another Way: AM Techniques for Prototyping and e-Manufacturing

5.14 Processing Trends: Cheaper, Faster, Easier, Greener

5.15 Starting Points for Manufacturer, Converter and Equipment Maker Search

5.16 Machinery and Equipment Makers and Distributors

References

6. Thermoplastic Composites

6.1 Definitions

6.2 Reminder of Some Basic Principles

6.3 Composite Mechanical Performances According to the Reinforcement Type

6.4 Composite Matrices

6.5 Reinforcements

6.6 Intermediate Semi-manufactured Materials

6.7 Examples of Composite Characteristics

References

7. Plastics Solutions for Practical Problems

7.1 Some General Rules

7.2 Solutions for Metal Replacement

7.3 Glass Replacement

7.4 Thermoplastics Structural Solutions

7.5 Esthetic Parts

7.6 Long-lasting parts

7.7 Transparent Parts

7.8 Fire Retardant Thermoplastics and Halogen-Free Fire Retardant Solutions

7.9 High Heat-Resistant Thermoplastics

7.10 Thermoplastics for Low-Temperature Applications

7.11 Electrically Conductive Thermoplastics

7.12 Antifriction thermoplastics

7.13 Absorbent and SAPs

7.14 Thermally Conductive Thermoplastics

7.15 Magnetic Thermoplastics

7.16 Heavy Compounds

7.17 Super-Soft Thermoplastics

7.18 Antimicrobial Solutions

7.19 Antifogging Solutions

7.20 Chemical Resistance of Thermoplastics

7.21 Adhesion Issues

7.22 Semi-manufactured Products

7.23 Thermoplastic Foams

7.24 Suggestions for Phthalate-Free Solutions

7.25 Suggestions to Avoid Six Substances Banned or Restricted by RoHS

7.26 Proposed Ways Toward Lower VOCs

References

8. Future Prospects for Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic Composites

8.1 The Laws and Requirements of the Market

8.2 Thermoplastic and Thermoplastic Composite Answers and Assets

8.3 Some Scenarios for Price Evolutions of Raw Polymers and Competing Metals

8.4 Markets: What Drives What? The Forces Driving Development

8.5 Cost Savings

8.6 Material Upgrading Thanks to Nanoreinforcement

8.7 Material Competition

8.8 Environmental Concerns

8.9 Are Bioplastics so Green? Beware of Study Interpretation

8.10 The Immediate Future Seen Through Recent Patents

8.11 The Immediate Future Seen through Recent Awards

Conclusion

References

Glossary

Index