Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook

Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications, Third Edition, presents the fundamentals of plastics engineering, helping to bring readers quickly up-to-speed if they are new to plastics or unfamiliar with a particular area of materials, processing, or technology. This new edition has been revised and expanded, to include the latest developments in plastics, including in areas such as biodegradable and biobased plastics, plastic waste, smart polymers, and 3D printing.  The first part of the book focuses on materials, covering the full range of traditional plastics, elastomeric materials, and bio-based materials. This is followed by a section focusing on additives, colorants, and fillers. The third section provides detailed coverage of plastics processing, including various key technologies as well as considerations such as plastic recycling and waste. The final part of the book examines design and applications, with substantial updates made to reflect advancements in technology, regulations, and commercialization of plastics in key application areas.  Throughout the handbook, the focus is on engineering aspects of producing and using plastics. Properties of plastics are explained, along with techniques for testing, measuring, enhancing, and analyzing them. Practical introductions to both core topics and new developments make this work equally valuable for newly qualified plastics engineers seeking the practical rules-of-thumb they don't teach you in school and experienced practitioners evaluating new technologies or getting up-to-speed in a new field. Chapters covering plastics joining, design of plastic parts, and 3-D printing have been updated to provide engineers with the information they need to deploy embryonic technologies in their own work. Reflecting ongoing developments in sustainability of plastics, there is an increased emphasis on environmental concerns and aspects such as bio-based plastics, plastic waste, and plastic recycling. The new edition also includes new chapters on marine plastics, biodegradable plastics, and smart polymers.  This is an essential handbook for engineers, R&D professionals, industrial designers, scientists, and manufacturers from a range of backgrounds working with plastics or approaching plastics engineering from other industries. In an academic setting, this book supports researchers and advanced students who are new to the field of plastics engineering or arriving from other disciplines.  Offers an ideal reference for new engineers, experienced practitioners, and researchers entering a new field or evaluating a new technology.  Provides an authoritative source of practical advice, providing guidance that will lead to cost savings and process improvements.  Updated to include the latest technology, including 3D printing, smart polymers, and thorough coverage of biobased and biodegradable plastics.