September 2011 Issue
August 2011
Features
Featured articles from the latest issue of Plastics Technology
Falling Resin Tabs May Rebound
The downtrend in prices for commodity thermoplastics continued through last month due to lower feedstock prices and poor domestic and export demand.
Read MoreTool Room Management: How To Lead Your Team
Real progress in a mold shop won’t be made without a qualified and motivated “driver at the wheel” who diligently searches for, and implements, continuous-improvement solutions.
Read MoreThe Truth About Barrel Heating
The main purposes of the heaters are to melt the polymer that remains in the barrel at cold startup, to assist in forming the initial melt, and to “trim” the barrel temperatures for specific purposes such as improving feed rate.
Read MoreOn Site: Pexco Takes a Two-Pronged Approach to Growth
Organic growth and growth via acquisition have combined to make this processor one of the leaders in custom profile extrusion.
Read MoreAvoid Those Devilish ‘Angel Hairs’
Angel hairs wreak havoc on plastics processing: clogging filters, plugging conveying lines, causing feed problems at the blender, and jamming up machine throats. Here's how to prevent their formation.
Read MoreThe Effects of Time on Polymers
Last month we briefly discussed the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of polymers and reviewed some of the structural considerations that govern these effects.
Read MoreNew PC Sheet Offers Blast Protection for Buildings
A new type of “structural envelope” based on a special polycarbonate sheet laminate from Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Pittsburgh, is said to establish a new level of bomb-blast resistance for building structures.
Read MoreDow Explores Burning Plastics Waste for Energy
This spring, Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., conducted pilot tests that validated and documented the potential for energy recovery from incinerating plastics wastes.
Read MoreNow LDS Electronic Circuitry Is Colorable
Laser direct structuring (LDS) is a powerful technology for adding electrical circuit paths to plastics electronic products such as mobile phone and notebook antennas or molded interconnect devices (MIDs). But up to now, LDS-ready plastics were limited to black.
Read MoreHow to Use Commercial Purging Compounds in Extrusion
CPCs are considered most often for injection molding. However, they also can provide the same benefits to extrusion processors.
Read MoreLSR Part III-- Choosing a Mixing/Metering System
Liquid silicone rubber (LSR ) is a two component reactive chemical with a viscous, paste-like consistency.
Read MoreHeineken Launches PET Beer Keg
This past spring, Dutch brewer Heineken introduced a colored 4-liter PET keg for its Amstel brand of beer in the Benelux region of Europe.
Read MoreVision Inspection Integrated with Press Control
Machine-operator access to 100% quality inspection of micro-part dimensions is available with the new PowerVision option from Wittmann Battenfeld, Torrington, Conn.
Read MoreBraskem Buys Dow's PP Business
Braskem in Brazil has acquired the polypropylene business of Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.
Read MoreHow to Get Better MFI Results
The MFI test is used widely among the various segments of the plastics industry. The difficulty is that any two labs can easily come up with different results, making it difficult to determine whether a material meets a desired MFI spec. Here are some reasons why such discrepancies occur and what can be done about them.
Read MoreShort Shots Redux
Deliberately making a short shot permits you to do a scientific molding viscosity curve. It will also prevent you from damaging the mold by overpacking if you set shot size incorrectly.
Read MoreNew Die Opens Up New Markets
General Plastic Extrusions Corp. found that out recently in converting a second-hand blown film line that had been used by its previous owner for R&D.
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