The global economy and the growing emphasis on quality improvements have greatly increased worldwide interest in quality assurance. In the plastics industry, one of the greatest challenges is evaluating the quality of polymer resins. In response to this challenge, it has been found that the results of rheological tests are useful indicators of resin quality. Rheological data are related directly to melt processability and indirectly to final part performance.

Rheology in Plastics Quality Control combines in one source an introduction to rheology, a discussion of quality management, and a presentation of the statistical tools required for the treatment of experimental data. Special attention is given to the application of statistical analysis to rheological testing in the plastics industry, where rheological data are related directly to melt processability and indirectly to final part performance. A CD-ROM with application examples is included; it provides examples of the application of commercial statistical software to the use of rheology for quality control.

From the Preface: “...Polymers are complex materials that resist description of composition by simple means. Direct testing of properties with advanced analytical methods, for example molecular weight distribution, are too laborious and insensitive for quality control purposes. Rheometers, on the other hand, have proven to be cost effective and accurate tools for measuring polymer characteristics. However, rheometers are not simple devices, and there are many pitfalls in their routine use. The instrument and the test method chosen may be inappropriate, selected for their simplicity or because their use is traditional rather than on the basis of a rational understanding...”

Target Audience: Production managers, quality and process technicians and engineers, and students of industrial polymer technology and quality control.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Rheological Properties of Polymers

An Introduction to Quality Assurance

Control Basics

Capillary Rheometers

Rotational Rheometers

Empirical Test Methods

On-Line Rheometers for Process Control

Controlling the Measurement Process

Appendix A: Companies Manufacturing Melt Rheometers and Testers

Appendix B: Statistical Software Products

Nomenclature

Index