This collection of papers illustrates novel imaging techniques and image analysis methods currently used to quantify various aspects of plastics materials and processing. It discusses the use of these methods to study material attributes such as texture, surface roughness, surface uniformity, fiber orientation distribution, fiber diameter distribution, rate of cracking, polymer blend morphology, dispersion of insoluble additives, corrosion, and material weathering.

From the Preface: “...The field of imaging has provided the polymer scientists and the plastics industry with the necessary tools to evaluate parameters that were until recently difficult to quantify...Image analysis is used to monitor/characterize a variety of processes. Examples of processes discussed include: extrusion, injection molding, foam production, film manufacture, compression molding, blow molding, vulcanization, melt spinning, reactive blending, welding, conveying, composite manufacture, compounding and thermosetting...”

Target Audience: Technologists, scientists, researchers, and students concerned with imaging and image analysis applications for plastics.

Partial Table of Contents:

The Optimized Performance of Linear Vibration Welded Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 Butt Joints

Image Analysis of Polypropylene Melt Fibre Stretching

The Effect of Fiber Orientation and Distribution on the Tooth Stiffness of a Polymer Composite Gear

Characterization of Kneading Block Performance in Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruders

A Quantitative Description of the Effects of Molecular Weight and Atactic Level on the Spherulite Growth Rate of Ziegler-Natta Isotactic Polypropylene

Flow Visualization for Extensional Viscosity Assessment

Analysis of a HDPE/PDMS System

The in situ Compatibilization of HDPE/PET Blends

Evaluation of Process Aids for Controlling Surface Roughness of Extruded LLDPE

Evaluation of Scratch and Mar Resistance in Automotive Coatings: Nanoscratching by Atomic Force Microscopy

Improved Barrier and Mechanical Properties of Laminar Polymer Blends

Processing—Structure—Property Relationships in PS/PE Blends: Compression vs. Injection Molding

CO₂-Blown PETG Foams

Tear Strength Enhancement Mechanisms in TPO Films

Morphological Study of Fatigue Induced Damage in Semicrystalline Polymers

Visualization of Polymer Melt Convergent Flows in Extrusion

Evaluation of the Constrained Blister Test for Measurement of an Intrinsic Adhesion

Application of Thermography for the Optimization of the Blow Molding Process

The Use of Video and the Development of Solids Conveying Theory

Microcellular PET Foams Produced by the Solid State Process

Thermal Wave Imaging of Propagating Cracks in Polypropylene and a Thermoplastic Olefin

The Division of Agglomerates in Molten Environment of Polymers: A Physical Model for Mathematical Description

A New On-Line Technique for Morphology Analysis and Residence Time Measurement in a Twin-Screw Extruder

Fatigue Fracture in Polypropylene with Different Spherulitic Sizes

Index