December 2004 Issue
December 2004
Features
Featured articles from the latest issue of Plastics Technology
Plastics Building Materials: Slower Growth But Still Strong
North American production of extruded window and door profiles rose rapidly in 2004.
Read MoreTwo-Material Automotive Part Is Cored Out with Water
A three-stage injection process involving nylon, polypropylene, and water assist was demonstrated at the recent K 2004 show in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Read MoreKnow Your Mold Coatings
Nowadays, there's a lot more to mold wear and corrosion protection than just hard chrome and electroless nickel. Some tools need more protection or more lubricity than they can offer. Here's one expert's guide to the newer options.
Read MorePolyurethanes: Foams Go 'Green' at Ever-Lower Cost
A great deal of effort is going into formulating rigid and flexible foams for lower cost and better properties, despite the transition to "cleaner" blowing agents. Improving fire and smoke performance is another challenge.
Read MoreD-LFT Composites Aim for Auto Body Panels
Direct long-fiber thermoplastic (D-LFT) compounding and molding is getting ready to expand beyond non-appearance structural automotive parts to exterior body panels.
Read MoreClose the Loop on Clean Cooling Water
A plastics molding plant runs on more than electricity—it runs on water.
Read MoreIn-Mold Labeling Catching on in North America
Already a familiar sight on European store shelves, the eye-catching appeal of "IML" is gaining traction among North American injection molders. The latest tooling and automation designs can handle the higher volumes needed here.
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