This book addresses the basic principles of experimental design and analysis, with a specific view toward polymer research. Experimental Strategies for Polymer Scientists and Plastics Engineers discusses the value of advance planning, providing guidance useful in defining objectives before experimental work begins, thus minimizing errors, testing time, and project costs. The book presents effective designs that do not require rigorous statistical training, and offers helpful tips on data collection and analysis that can actually improve data quality and confidence in the conclusions drawn from it.

From the Preface: “Success in today's fast-paced plastics industry depends on timely introduction of new and improved products, and solving problems quickly and permanently. These tasks involve experimentation. The use of sound methodology can reduce the time and cost invested in these important activities...Scientists and engineers willing to learn and apply the principles presented in this book will become more productive in their work and more convincing in their communications about it.”

Target Audience: Polymer scientists, plastics engineers, project managers, and technicians requiring a basic, sound footing in experimental design and analysis.

Table of Contents:

 

Introduction:

The Needs of Industry

The Need for Education

Experimental Design:

Characteristics of Good Experiments

Types of Variables

Types of Effects

Experimental Error

Designing Effective Experiments

Screening Designs

Designs to Measure Interactions

Second Order Response Designs

Three-Component Mixture Design

Data Analysis:

Regression Analysis

Coping with Multiple Objectives

Problems with Data

Experimental Strategies:

Using Masterbatches

Testing Strategy

Optimizing Strategy

Summing Up

Index