With the growing popularity of thermoplastic microcellular foams (such as those produced by the MuCell process of Trexel Inc.) comes increased need to understand how to optimize foam properties through appropriate foam structure.

Three recent announcements herald new cooperative efforts among plastics groups for education and workforce development. --The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), Washington, D.C., and international custom molder Nypro Inc., Clinton, Mass., will collaborate on workforce development.

Efforts have been made to simulate the extrusion blow molding process for at least a decade, but actual use has been slow to take hold.