SPE Library

Polypropylene: Commodity Resin, I Don't Think So

Jeffrey A. Jansen, June 2021

Polypropylene is often referred to as a “commodity resin”, however, is this really the case? Polypropylene is a versatile thermoplastic that can be processed through a variety of processing techniques. It is utilized in a wide range of applications, including packaging, automotive, infrastructure, appliances, healthcare, and electrical. Its wide use is based upon several key strengths, including:

• Good chemical resistance
• Good electrical insulation properties
• Flexural strength and modulus
• Relatively low coefficient of friction
• Readily available and relatively inexpensive

The implication of the interchangeability of polypropylene resins does a disservice to the complexity of this material and the plastic industry in general. The properties of polypropylene are highly dependent on molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, crystallinity, type and proportion of comonomer and the tacticity. Hopefully, at the conclusion of the webinar, attendees will

• Gain an understanding of the general properties of polypropylene.
• Have more insight into how the molecular structure of polypropylene determines its performance properties.
• Appreciate the diversity of polypropylene.

A Walk Through Kistler's Innovation – From the Sensor To Data Driven Decision Making In A Connected Production

Robert Vaculik, June 2021

Have you ever wondered how Kistler defines “Measure, Analyze, Innovate and Optimize”? Learn how Kistler has adapted the everchanging engineering and manufacturing industries in an educational webinar hosted by Dr. Robert Vaculik, Head of Business Unit Plastics and Society of Plastics Engineers: A walk through Kistler’s innovation – from the sensor to data driven decision making in a connected production. Overview:

1. Measure — Here we cover sensor technology, connectors installation, sensor placement and different sensor types (direct pressure, indirect pressure, pT sensors, T sensors, measurement pins)
2. Analyze — Here we cover the principle of process monitoring and cover the main functions of ComoNeo as well as the optinal features
3. Innovate — Here we cover our machine learning approach using ComoNeo predict, by using sensor signal and prdict the specified quality
4. Optimize — Here we cover the connectivity of ComoNeo and CDC, as well as the interfaces OPC-UA, which enable the customer to collect data and have access to the data on a worldwide scale

Capillary Rheometry: Application to Extrusion

Olivier Catherine, April 2021

In this webinar, we will explore the advantages of capillary rheometers for extrusion application through specific processing and equipment design examples. While some materials like polyolefins can have straightforward flow behaviors, other more complex materials and compounds involved in the extrusion of film and sheet products can exhibit non-typical flow behaviors for which capillary rheometry is a critical characterization tool. We will review the advantages of capillary rheometry over other rheological characterization techniques, and we will also discuss some of the challenges and limitations of the capillary measurements.

Interviewing for the Virtual World Workshop

David Peterson and Ashley Gannon, April 2021

This event is for everyone from fresh out of school to looking for a new role! The day will begin with an interviewing tips presentation hosted by David Peterson and Ashley Gannon  from Direct Recruiters. As experts in the interview process, David and Ashley will share best practices for nailing the interview, whether in person or over video conference. Following the Interview Best Practices, we will be hosting a panel discussion hosted by three experienced SPE members in the Plastics Field. The panelists will cover what they look for during the interview process and provide tips for ways to stand out during the interview. After the panel, we will open it up to a live Q&A!

Plastic Bag Recycling: The Obaggo Story

David New, April 2021

Dave New, founder of Obaggo Recycling, will tell the story of his journey to bring a novel plastic bag recycling solution to the mass market. He will discuss the genesis of the idea, the trials and tribulations of prototype development, and the epic search for project support and funding. A fundamentally entrepreneurial story, Dave will talk about the world of start-up accelerators, b-plan competitions, and how he navigated a vast landscape of stakeholders, cheerleaders, and naysayers.

Resume for the Virtual World Workshop

Alex Jordan, Rodney Joslin, Marcela Linares, April 2021

This event is for everyone from fresh out of school to looking for a new senior role! An expert panel (including someone who hires new graduates, someone who hires seasoned professionals, and an HR specialist in the plastics field) panel will introduce their top 3 tips for making your resume sell the best you! After a great discussion on what it takes to have a competitive resume in the world of digital filter systems, we will open it up to a live Q&A! Stick around for the second hour to dive deeper with the panelist of your choice and if you are bold enough, to have them work directly on your resume!

Less is More: How to Maximize Energy Savings in Plastics Processing - Part 2 

Josh Bachman, March 2021

This is the second part of a two-part webinar. This webinar will address behavioral and organizational approaches to industrial energy management. Josh will explain how manufacturing companies can implement energy programs, both through proven best practices and through local and regional utility funding programs.

Thermal Analysis of Plastics

Jeffrey A. Jansen, March 2021

Thermal analysis is an important group of tests used in the analysis of plastics and other polymeric materials. It consists of a family of well-established techniques that evaluate material properties as they change with temperature, time, and ambient environment under conditions of thermal programming. The results of thermal analysis tests provide qualitative and quantitative information about the material being evaluated. In particular, this information is important to address plastic failures or in characterization of the material composition and physical properties. The upcoming webinar on thermal analysis will introduce the four primary techniques:

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
• Thermomechancial Analysis (TMA)
• Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

The webinar is designed to introduce the techniques to the attendees so that they may get a better understanding of how the techniques can be used to evaluate plastic materials and solve problems. No single thermal analysis technique is best suited universally, but together they provide essential data for the characterization of plastics materials. This presentation will review thermal analysis techniques and their application to plastic problem solving through case studies. The webinar will be a practical treatment of the techniques, and the focus will be on how the techniques can be utilized to better understand polymeric materials. At the end of this presentation you will:

• Gain insight into the different types of thermal analysis techniques
• Recognize which technique is best suited to obtain the information you need
• Understand how thermal analysis can be used to characterize the composition and properties of plastic

Less is More: How to Maximize Energy Savings in Plastics Processing - Part 1

Josh Bachman and Pamela Birkel, March 2021

Wasted energy is wasted profit. In these webinars, plastics engineers, plant managers, and financial managers will learn about the typical opportunities to save energy at plastics plants. In the first webinar, Josh Bachman and Pamela BIrkel will share energy savings opportunities that have been uncovered over the years. They will also share case studies of successful projects, many of which were funded by the local utility.

Environmental Stress Cracking

Jeffrey A. Jansen, February 2021

Environmental stress cracking (ESC) is the leading cause of plastic component failure, and a recent study suggests that 25% of plastic part failures are related to ESC. If you deal with plastic components, then “Environmental Stress Cracking of Plastics” will provide you with information that will enhance your understanding of the interaction between chemicals and plastic resins, with the goal of preventing part failure. ESC is a solvent-induced failure mode in which a plastics crack through contact with a chemical agent while under stress. The webinar will be presented from a practical viewpoint with actual case studies to illustrate the ESC mechanism and explain plastic performance. Topics covered during this session include:

• Introduction to ESC
• How plastics fail
• Explanation of the ESC failure mechanism
• Generalizations related to chemical interaction with plastics
• ESC resistance testing used to evaluate plastic/chemical compatibility
• Case Illustrations of some common solvent-based failure modes

At the end of this presentation you will:

• Have a better understanding how chemicals effect plastic components.
• Recognize potential situations where ESC failure could occur in your parts.
• Be able to design a chemical resistance program to evaluate plastic/chemical combinations.

Formulating Thermoplastics with Non-Halogen Flame Retardants: An Introduction

Roger Avakian, February 2021

Course Overview:

• Basics of Polymer Flammability and Flame Retardant Mechanisms
• Overview of Most Common Flammability Tests
• Chemistry of Major Non-Halogen Flame Retardants
• Common Non-Halogen Flame Retardants Used in Major Thermoplastics
• Introduction to Formulating Thermoplastics with Non-Halogen Flame Retardants

Medical Plastics: Making the Right Choice

Michael Paloian, December 2020

This presentation will include important design parameters that should be considered when specifying a plastic for a medical device. It will also recommend resources for aiding you during the selection process. The interrelationships between polymer structure and physical properties will be highlighted as well as polymer classifications. Examples of medical devices will be included toward the end of the presentation demonstrating how this information can be applied to real world applications.

The Consequences of Ductile-To-Brittle Transitions in Plastics

Jeffrey A. Jansen, December 2020

Thermoplastic resins are utilized in many applications because of their unique property set, including their ductile response to applied stress. This ductility is associated with the viscoelastic nature of polymers and is attributed to their unique molecular structure. In spite of that inherent ductility, most plastic components fail through one of the many brittle fracture modes. Experience through conducting thousands of plastic component failure analyses has shown that less than 5% were associated with ductile overload. The remainder represent brittle fractures of normally ductile materials. Thus, within evaluations of plastic component failures, the focus of the investigation frequently turns to identifying the nature of the ductile to brittle transition. This relatively brittle response to stress is evident through the examination and characterization of the fracture surface morphology. There are numerous factors, associated with material, processing, design, and service conditions that influence a ductile-to-brittle transition within plastic materials. These include:

• Temperature
• Stress Concentration
• Chemical Contact
• Molecular Weight
• Degradation
• Filler Content
• Contamination
• Poor Fusion
• Strain Rate
• Time Under Load
• Crystallinity
• Plasticizer Content

Taking out the Trash, Plastics Design for the End-of-Life

Eric Larson, December 2020

Nothing lasts forever. Great products might not last forever, but they usually last a long time. But no matter how great the product is, there will come a point in time where a thing no longer has any value. It then becomes waste. To be thrown in the trash. And then what? How do you design a product to account for its expected end of life? Or an unexpected end? How do you evaluate materials based on what happens at their end of life? What tools are there? How to use them? What’s next? For plastics, and for the industry.

Life Cycle Assessments: Why and How?

Chris Koffler, November 2020

The webinar will give a high-level overview of the basic process, concepts, and calculations involved in carrying out Life Cycle Assessments in accordance with the international standard ISO 14044. It will further showcase LCA studies performed for industry to demonstrate the business value that can be derived from such studies in product development and marketing. The target audience includes process engineers, product designers, product managers, sustainability professionals, and anyone interested in ways to quantify the environmental performance of goods and services.

The Life of a Plastic Color

Tim Mouw and Thomas Meeker, November 2020

With increasingly complex color palettes and other specifications like flame retardation and recyclability coming into play, plastic color can be challenging to produce. However, with the right tools, processes and basic color understanding at hand, color doesn't have to be a burden in producing plastic product. During this webinar hosted by SPE, X-Rite Pantone color experts will help you understand the life of a plastic color and how your particular role in that lifecycle can help expedite the product development process, from inspiration and design all the way through final quality control. Key Learnings include:

• Understand how to bridge the gap between color and appearance
• Importance of using physical and digital tools
• How to choose the right toolset for your role in the supply chain and particular needs

Navigating Plastic Material Selection

Jeffrey A. Jansen, November 2020

Material selection is one of the fundamental aspects that will determine the success or failure of a product. With so many choices available today regarding plastic materials, it is imperative that anyone involved in product design or material selection understand resin properties and how they will affect end product performance as well as part design and manufacturability. While plastic material selection is a frequent topic of discussion, it is not as simple as it may first appear. A thorough understanding of the short-term and long-term properties of the potential plastic resins is essential. To help make the best plastic resin choice, is also essential to have a basic knowledge of polymer chemistry. This webinar will address some of the considerations that need to be made when selecting a plastic resin, and outline the challenges and benefits of selecting an appropriate material. The presentation will introduce a method of systematic selection that will optimize the plastics material selection process.

Free Form Injection Molding Technology

SPE Pacific Northwest Section, October 2020

What is FreeForm Injection Molding?
Freeform Injection Molding is a complete reframing of printed injection molding tooling. Instead of aiming for the highest possible number of shots per tool, the technology is focused on delivering the highest possible versatility in terms of materials, and the geometrical freedom in design.

This is Not the Wild West: Sustainability Definitions, Standards, and Regulations

Kelvin Okamoto, October 2020

With continued interest in and development of sustainable plastics, it is clear that not everyone is working with the same lexicon. Terms such as 'degradable', 'bio-degradable', 'recyclable', and 'compostable' are subject to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, or outright fraudulent claims. This webinar will address how ASTM standards are being used to create a common understanding based on science and testing. We will also address the commonalities and differences among standards, certifications, and regulations. This webinar is part of SPE's ongoing "Sustainability & Plastics" series.

Improve Your Chromatography with Refractive Index

Tobias Husemann, August 2020

Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) plays an essential role in determination of dispersity and molecular weight of polymers and complex molecules. Calibration is done using polymer solutions such as polystyrene in organic solvents, and uncertainties in preparation of the standard can often carry over to uncertain measurement results.

This webinar from Anton Paar will focus on how you can minimize uncertainty — and expensive errors - with a fast, highly-precise refractive index measurement. After the webinar, you will have a better understanding of how a refractometer can improve your chromatography.

Featured topics in this webinar will include:

• GPC calibration process
• The role played by dn/dc values
• How a refractometer can improve the GPC calibration process
• Requirements and the specifications your refractometer must meet