Defining the fundamentals that determine plastic properties

• Molecular weight - the foundation of polymer technology  
• The relationship to viscosity 
• The relationship to properties 
• Methods of measurement 
• New technologies that change the rules  
• Methods of polymerization - addition and condensation polymers 
• Effect on properties 
• Effect on processing  
• Polarity - Why nylon absorbs water but not gasoline 
• Amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers - the one thing you must know about polymer structure  
• Detecting the presence of crystalline structure  
• Effects on processing  
• Effects on properties  
• The role of polymer blend  
  
  

2. Property Evaluations - Short-term

• Tensile, flexural, and compressive properties  
• Impact properties - various methods of measurement  
• Thermal properties  
• Other properties - chemical resistance, optical, radiation resistance 
• Why the data sheet properties do not work for material selection  
• The behavior behind the numbers  
• The role of material property databases and selection utilities  
  
  

3. Property Evaluations - Long-term

• Effects of temperature  
• Reduction in strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures 
• Dimensional stability 
• Structural changes due to thermal aging 
• Thermal degradation and oxidation  
• Loss of ductility at reduced temperatures
• Chemical resistance - effects of temperature and time
• Creep resistance, stress relaxation, and fatigue 
• Defining the mechanisms 
• Data presentation
• Accelerated testing methods - advantages and pitfalls
• The fundamental equivalence of temperature and time
• Environmental stress crack resistance - the differences from chemical attack
• Radiation resistance - weathering, ultraviolet, sterilization  
  
  

4. Property Modifications   

• Fillers and reinforcements  
• Glass fibers - the long and the short of it
• Minerals - talc, mica, calcium carbonate and the new nanocomposites  
• High performance fibers
• What gets used where and why
• Impact modifiers
• Colorants
• Stabilizers - importance to processing and part performance
  
  

5. Establishing the Cost/Performance Profile    

• Defining application requirements
• Matching requirements to a cost-effective material family
• Design properties versus inherent properties
• Designing for manufacturing - wall thickness, viscosity & process selection
• The role of simulation
  
  

6. Selecting a Material Supplier

• Sampling versus sustained performance
• Quality systems and audits
• Technical support
• Majors versus independent compounders
• The role of distribution
  
  

7. Case Studies - Successes and Failures

CDGA attendance certificate will be issued to all attendees completing minimum of 80% of the total course duration.