This overview of plastics testing provides an understanding of how polymer structure and morphology affect properties that are important for plastics processing and how to test for these properties. The reader will get an overview of basic material testing, the specific properties tested, and why they are important. The book also provides insight into which tests are useful for predicting the behavior of plastics products after they have been produced and are in end-use.

From the Preface: “The main objective of this primer on plastics testing is to present the subject in a manner that is understandable by the unlearned yet unchallenged by the learned. The plastics industry with its continued growth, demands of increased quality awareness, and versatility of applications, has forced testing of plastics to become essential to the continued success of the industry. It is important to know how to conduct a test but it is even more important to know what information the test yields and does not yield. This book presents a brief overview of materials, their properties, and attributes that contribute to results obtained from testing...”

Target Audience: Primarily for students and for entry-level personnel in quality programs and test laboratories; also valuable as a quick reference for more experienced personnel.

Table of Contents:

The Science of Testing

Understanding Polymers and Their Behavior

Mechanical Properties

Thermal Testing

Viscous Flow Properties

Quality in the Testing Laboratory

References and Appendices

Index