The fourth edition of Industrial Plastics: Theory and Applications offers broad coverage of the developments in materials and processes employed in the plastics industry — current technologies and manufacturing methods are the keystones for this introductory text. Subjects covered include plastics recycling, ISO and ASTM test specifications, and current health and safety standards. There is a new section on nano-composites and their applications in the automotive industry

From the Preface: “[This book] covers all facets of industrial plastics technology, as well as major manufacturing processes, serving as an indispensable resource for those individuals enrolled in polymer technology or plastics technology programs at community colleges, technical colleges, and universities. Comprehensive in nature, professionals who wish to review the basics, and remain up-to-date on the latest technology in plastics manufacturing will also find this text useful...”

Target Audience: Introductory-level students concerned with plastics processing technology; also a valuable overview and quick reference to newcomers to the field.

Table of Contents:

Historical Introduction to Plastics

Current Status of the Plastics Industry

Elementary Polymer Chemistry

Health and Safety

Elementary Statistics

Properties and Tests of Selected Plastics

Ingredients of Plastics

Characterization and Selection of Commercial Plastics

Machining and Finishing

Molding Processes

Extrusion Processes

Laminating Processes and Materials

Reinforcing Processes and Materials

Casting Processes and Materials

Thermoforming

Expansion Processes

Coating Processes

Fabrication Processes and Material

Decoration Processes

Radiation Processes

Design Considerations

Tooling and Moldmaking

Commercial Considerations

Appendices: Glossary; Abbreviations for Selected Materials; Trade Names and Manufacturers; Material Identification; Thermoplastics; Thermosetting Plastics; Useful Tables; Sources of Help and Bibliography

Index