SPE Library

The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.

The SPE Library is just one of the great benefits of being an SPE member! Are you taking advantage of all of your SPE Benefits?

Not an SPE member? Join today!

Use % to separate multiple keywords.

Search SPE Library

Webinars

How Cooling Line Layout and Mold Design Influence Plastic Part Cost and Performance

Erik Foltz, January 2019

Cycle time optimization is often one of the main objectives when designing and constructing the mold. However, the majority of a molding cycle is often dictated by the cooling time. Therefore, it is strange that in the mold design process the integration and design of the cooling line layout and high conductivity inserts is often left toward the end of the design process where the design envelops has been drastically reduced. It is also commonly believed that the placement of the cooling lines is the only driver for properly cooling the part, and its design only influences the manufacturability of the part. This presentation will highlight the importance of all aspects of the mold cooling design on molding efficiency, and will also highlight how decisions on this design aspect of your mold actually influence the end performance of your plastic part. These points will be illustrated through practical engineer calculations and validated through case studies. Erik Foltz is a Senior Managing Engineer at The Madison Group, an independent plastics consulting firm located in Madison, WI. At The Madison Group, Erik assists designers, engineers, and molders with optimizing their plastic part design for manufacturability and performance.

Materials for Medical Applications

Dr. Vipul Davé, December 2018

SPE Webinar Materials for Medical Applications presented by Dr. Vipul Davé on December 13, 2018. Development of novel polymer systems has led to several innovations that have profoundly influenced the future of medicine. Polymers are widely used in many medical devices for short-term and long-term applications and the properties of these materials must be tailored for the intended use. There is always a need to modify existing materials or develop new materials to meet the challenging demands of new medical devices. The presentation will provide an overview of the selection criteria of materials that are used for medical applications, and examples will include materials that are used in cardiovascular, orthopedic, surgical and drug delivery devices.

Thermal Analysis in Failure and Compositional Analysis

Jeff Jansen, December 2018

SPE Webinar Series - Thermal Analysis in Failure and Compositional Analysis, presented by Jeff Jansen on December 6, 2018. 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 webinar on thermal analysis will introduce the four primary techniques:

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

Feel Good, Look Good, For Life ... as You Excel in Business

Angela Gaffney, November 2018

SPE Webinar Series - Feel Good, Look Good, For Life ... As You Excel in Business, presented by Angela Gaffney on 11/7/2018. Angela is the best-selling author of Feel Good, Look Good, For Life, a Certified Health Coach and Professional Speaker, who’s inspired thousands to achieve health as they excel in their career. Her story of perseverance will inspire you, and her simple strategies will have you on the path to achieving your health goals with ease. More information at www.angelagaffney.com.