Synopses & Reviews
Modern polymer processing can no longer be regarded as a mere shape conversion operation; rather, it is a route to the achievement of specific properties in a given system, involving substantial reorganization at the nano and molecular levels. Our understanding of the mechanisms governing the development of structure in the different routes by which polymeric raw materials are transformed into useful artifacts is a very important subject, keystone in the control and enhancement of plastic products. This book presents a compilation of recent studies in the area, presenting a comprehensive, tutorial review of the interrelationships between the properties, structure and processing of polymeric materials. Readership: Postgraduate level, interested in structure and morphology of polymeric systems, modern characterisation techniques, crystallisation mechanisms and kinetics, structure-property relationships, and structure development in various processing techniques.
Synopsis
30 years ago, polymer processing was considered to be a set of operations aiming at imparting a desired shape to the material, while its final properties were defined exclu- sively by the molecular structure and architecture resulted from the respective synthetic approaches. These two fields of knowledge - polymer processing and polymer structure - grew closer as several scientific and technological works disclosed the microstructure and other morphological features developed by polymeric systems upon different process- ing conditions. Even before the real understanding of the polymer structural details, engineers were able to make use of the effect of molecular orientation and to manufacture polymeric fi- bres with enhanced properties in terms of stiffness and strength. However, it was during the 1970s that the scientific community started to relate microstructure development and the thermomechanical environment associated to different processing techniques. Ever since, very important works were done on semi crystalline, amorphous or blended polymers in order to identify and, recently, to predict the effect of the imposed shear fields and cool- ing gradients on the final product properties. These efforts led to more accurate process- ing methods and stimulated new engineering approaches, such as property enhancement through out-of-the-processing as well as on-line control. Modem processing technology has developed further towards the nano level, enabling impacts on the macromolecular structure.
Table of Contents
Preface. List of Authors. Part I: Structure and Properties. Polymer Structure and Morphology; L.A. Utracki. Structure and Morphology of Semicrystalline Polymers; J.M. Haudin, B. Monasse. Modern Structural Characterization Techniques Using Synchrotron Radiation to Study Structure Development; A.J. Ryan. Crystallization Mechanisms and Relevant Theories; J.M. Haudin, B. Monasse. Overall Crystallization Kinetics; Application to Transcrystallinity; N. Billon, J.M. Haudin. Structure-Microhardness Correlation of Polymers and Blends; F.J. Baltá Calleja. Fracture and Fatigue Behaviour of Semicrystalline Polymers as a Function of Microstructural and Molecular Parameters; J. Karger-Kocsis. Part II: Structure Development During Processing. Rheology and Structure Development; J.L. White. Structure and Property Development During the Melt Spinning of Synthetic Fibres; J.E. Spruiell. Real-Time Monitoring of Fast Birefringence Changes During Crystallization of Preoriented Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) and Poly(lactic acid) Films; M. Cakmak, et al. Post Processing Behaviour of a Semicrystalline Polymer; S. Piccarolo. Processing-Structure-Properties Relationships in Injection Moulded Parts; A.M. Cunha, et al. Physical Properties Enhancement by Composition and Microstructure Control; M.J. Bevis. Part III: Structure Development in Blends and Composites. Flow-Induced Mixing and Demixing in Polymer Blends; B.A. Wolf. Microfibrillar Reinforced Composites - Another Approach to Polymer Blends Processing; M. Evstatiev, et al. Processing and Properties of Polymer Microlayered Systems; E. Baer, et al. Modelling of Short Fibre-Reinforced Thermoplastics' Flows in Polymer Processing; M. Vincent. Outlook: Future Trends in Polymer Processing; M.J. Bevis.