Thermoplastics and thermoplastic composites / Michel Biron.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Front Cover; Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic Composites; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; Chapter 1: Outline of the Actual Situation of Plastics Compared to Conventional Materials; Chapter 2: The Plastics Industry: Economic Overview; Chapter 3: Basic Criteria for the Selection of Thermoplastics; Chapter 4: Detailed Accounts of Thermoplastic Resins; Chapter 5: Thermoplastic Processing; Chapter 6: Thermoplastic Composites; Chapter 7: Plastics Solutions for Practical Problems; Chapter 8: Plastics Rush Into Digitalization Through Industry 4.0.

Chapter 9: Future Prospects for Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic CompositesDisclaimer; Acronyms and Abbreviations; 1 Outline of the Actual Situation of Plastics Compared to Conventional Materials; 1.1 Polymers: The Industrial and Economic Reality Compared to Traditional Materials; 1.1.1 Plastic and Metal Consumption; 1.1.2 Mechanical Properties; 1.1.2.1 Intrinsic Mechanical Properties; 1.1.2.2 Specific Mechanical Properties; 1.1.3 Thermal and Electrical Properties; 1.1.4 Durability; 1.1.5 Material Costs; 1.1.5.1 Cost Per Weight of Various Materials.

1.1.5.2 Cost Per Volume of Various Materials1.1.5.3 (Performance/Cost Per Liter) Ratios of Various aterials; 1.1.6 Examples of Other Traditional Materials; 1.1.6.1 Wood; 1.1.6.2 Glass; 1.1.6.3 Paper and Cardboard; 1.1.6.4 Textiles; 1.1.6.5 Cement; 1.2 What Are Thermoplastics, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermosets, Composites, and Hybrids?; 1.2.1 Thermoplastics; 1.2.2 Thermoplastic Elastomers; 1.2.3 Thermosets; 1.2.4 Polymer Composites; 1.2.5 Hybrid Materials; 1.3 Plastics: An Answer to the Designer's Main Problems; 1.3.1 Economic Requirements; 1.3.2 Technical Requirements.

1.3.3 Marketing Requirements1.3.4 Sustainability and Environmental Requirements; 1.3.5 Some Weaknesses of Polymer Materials; 1.4 Outline of the Technical and Economic Possibilities of Processing; 1.4.1 Thermoplastic Processing; 1.4.1.1 Molding Solid Thermoplastics; 1.4.1.2 Extrusion and Connected Processes; 1.4.1.3 Calendering; 1.4.1.4 Blow Molding; 1.4.1.5 Molding Liquid Thermoplastics; 1.4.1.6 Secondary Processing; 1.4.1.7 Brief Economic Comparison of Some Processing Costs; 1.4.1.8 Repair Possibilities: A Significant Thermoplastic Advantage for Large Parts; 1.4.2 Thermoset Processing.

1.4.2.1 Molding Solid Thermosets1.4.2.2 Molding Liquid Thermosets; 1.4.2.3 Secondary Processing; 1.4.3 Composite Processing; 1.4.3.1 Primary Processes; 1.4.3.2 Secondary Processing; 1.4.3.3 Repair Possibilities: A Significant Composite Advantage; 1.4.4 Hybrid Processing; 1.4.5 Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing; 1.5 Environmental Constraints; 1.5.1 Toxicity and Pollution; 1.5.2 The Recycling of Polymers; 1.5.3 Development of Bio-Thermoplastics From Renewable Sources; 1.6 The Final Material/Process/Cost Compromise; References; Websites; Papers; 2 The Plastics Industry: Economic Overview.

Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic Composites, Third Edition bridges the technology and business aspects of thermoplastics, providing a guide designed to help engineers working in real-world industrial settings. The author explores the criteria for material selection, provides a detailed guide to each family of thermoplastics, and explains the various processing options for each material type. More than 30 families of thermoplastics are described with information on their advantages and drawbacks, special grades, prices, transformation processes, applications, thermal behavior, technological properties (tenacity, friction, dimensional stability), durability (ageing, creep, fatigue), chemical and fire behavior, electrical properties, and joining possibilities. In this third edition, standards and costs have been updated for all materials, and more information on topics such as bioplastics, 3D printing and recycling have been added. In addition, an entirely new chapter on the concept of 'Industry 4.0' has been added, with guidance and suggestions on the incorporation of virtualization, connectivity, and automation into the plastics engineering process to reduce materials and processing failure. Includes detailed case studies that illustrate best practices across a wide range of applications and industry sectorsPresents a new chapter on the 'Industry 4.0' conceptSuggests software solutions to assist with design, decision-making and management, along with other forms of automation.