This report discusses the different types of styrenic copolymers available in the market place today, their properties and applications. The market situation is discussed. The chemistry of these materials is outlined, together with a summary of manufacturing methods. The morphology, manufacture and properties of key materials are described. This review is accompanied by summaries of the cited papers from the Rapra Polymer Library database.
This report has the objective of bringing together information from a broad spectrum of polymer and pipe supply technology and relating it to the regional and demographic trends of the demand side. This approach will enable readers to view their own more detailed market information within a broader context and consequently gain a more complete understanding of long term trends.
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have the elastic behaviour of rubber and the processability of thermoplastics. The Freedonia Group has forecast that demand will expand by 6.4% per year to around 2.15 million tons in 2006. There is potential for these new, exciting materials to expand into the much larger thermoset rubber markets. This review includes comparisons between the two material types. There are three major types of TPE: block copolymers, rubber/plastic blends and dynamically vulcanised rubber/plastic alloys known as thermoplastic vulcanisates. The chemistry of these materials and how.
The plastics industry is a major player for consumer items, notably for the automotive, consumer electronics and packaging industries, and is necessarily very active in innovation. As a result, moulded thermoplastics are achieving new heights in decorative appearance and quality. Many striking aesthetic effects are possible by employing new polymer blends coupled with a diverse range of decoration and surface treatment technologies. These can produce three-dimensional and tactile finishes, high definition images, flawless high gloss and metallic surfaces, as well as effects ranging from imitation materials, interferential colours, colour gradients, colour change and travel, gloss and matte combinations, and even acoustic or olfactory effects. Manufacturing processes to achieve these include several types of in-mould film, coating or decorating technique, relatively recent technologies to improve surface quality, as well as traditional separate decorating or coating processes such as dry offset; flexographic; inkjet; pad and screen printing; foil transfer; labelling; laser marking; plating; spray coating; and vacuum deposition. This unique book analyses and compares recent trends in each of over 20 types of mainstream manufacturing process and 10 classes of sensory effect they can produce. Supported by over 100 tables, a 3-year sampling of over 1,000 mentioned patent documents and hundreds of commercial developments helps to identify the main trends and their innovators, key innovative clusters and the most sought-after effects, as well as provide indications for the future.
This report starts with a simple overview of materials, processes and application for rigid plastics packaging and progresses to the latest developments. Processing methods are described briefly in the review with an overview of each type accompanied by a discussion of forthcoming developments. The properties of the different polymers and polymer grades related to packaging applications are also discussed. The review is accompanied by over 400 summaries of papers from the Rapra Polymer Library on developments in polymers, processes and applications for rigid packaging.
Market research guide to the chemicals, coatings and plastics industry ? a tool for strategic planning, employment searches or financial research. Contains trends analysis, statistical tables, and an industry glossary. Includes one page profiles of 400 leading chemicals, coatings and plastics industry firms ? includes addresses, phone numbers, executive names.
Plastics possess some special characteristics but most of the potential environmental problems and their solutions are common to other materials and industries. This review considers their environmental impact in terms of industrial systems (e.g. eco-profile and life-cycle systems), and looks at energy consumption and recovery, as well as recycling. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database provides useful references for further reading.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most recycled plastic in the world. This book covers all from the world market of PET to the many technologies and processes developed for separation, decontamination, recycling and manufacturing into food-grade and non-food-grade products of PET. Also, regulations, testing methods and analytical procedures according to the current regulatory framework are presented.
This review describes the process of life cycle analysis in some detail. It describes the different organisations involved in researching and applying these techniques and the database resources being used to generate comparative reports. The overview explains the factors to be considered, the terminology, the organisations involved in developing these techniques and the legislation which is driving the whole process forward. The ISO standards relating to environmental management are also discussed briefly in the document. Design for the environment is covered in the report. This review is accompanied by summaries of selected papers on life cycle analysis and environmental impact from the Rapra Polymer Library database.
Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives and Applications, Second Edition explains how pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) work, why they are used, and the technology used to manufacture them. This second edition features the latest developments in the field. Dr. Benedek discusses the factors that affect the rheology and special flow characteristics responsible for the adhesivity of liquid and solid PSAs. His book explores the viscoelastic behavior of PSAs, and compares them to plastics, rubbers, and polymers properties and examines the parameters that influence the conversion process of PSAs from the coating of carrier materials to the properties of the final laminate. The author covers adhesion/cohesion balance, time-temperature dependence of pressure sensitivity, chemical composition, coating properties, and coating processes affect the adhesive properties of PSA and their end products and how application-specific performance indices are used to determine the formulation and manufacture of raw materials. In addition, up-to-date coating machines, converting technology, and environmental considerations in the manufacture of PSA final products as well as industry-specific methods of testing for quality assurance and control are discussed. Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives and Applications, Second Edition combines the theoretical basis of pressure sensitivity with the practical aspects of manufacturing, testing, and use of PSAs. Readers are offered an exhaustive as well as comparative look at the engineering of plastics, adhesives, and pressure-sensitives, resulting in an indispensable, up-to-date reference for adhesive and polymer chemists and technologists.
