MONTHLY MEETING
 
 

Abstract:

In-depth injection molding simulation software has typically been used by analysts who have the expertise to setup the complex mesh model required for simulation.  With advanced simulation technology from SIGMA, injection molding simulation is easier to use and more accurate than ever.  This opens the door to product designers, project managers, and engineers in charge of polymer injection molds and processes, as well as analysis groups.  Companies no longer need to rely on a "meshing expert" to employ injection molding simulation.
The presentation will highlight the power of injection molding simulation when considering 3D mold components, cooling channels, the complete runner system, and part geometries coupled with multi-cycle analysis.  Simulation is a must-have tool for companies wanting to evaluate 'what if' scenarios of the entire injection molding process early in the design and tooling stages

Speaker Bio:

Fred has a degree in Plastics Engineering from Penn State Erie.  He worked for Moldflow/C-MOLD for 12 years as an applications engineer and sales manager, based in Charlotte, NC.  Fred left Autodesk-Moldflow in July 2010 and relocated to Scottsdale, AZ to pursue a new career with SIGMA Plastic Services, focusing on growing simulation sales of SIGMASOFT in the western US territory.  Fred has also been very active in SPE, as a two-time President of the Carolinas section and holding many other roles over his years with the chapter.
 
 

Dear SPE GGS members:

We have two additional events in the works to round out and wind down the 2010-2011 year.   First, we have a lunch seminar/webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 12th on “Next Generation of Injection Molding Simulation” by Fred Phillips with SIGMA Plastic Services.  Exponent, in Menlo Park, CA is hosting the event.  For those who wish to attend remotely, we are broadcasting the event via WebEx.  The event is 2 weeks away, so be sure to RSVP ASAP!  Check out our calendar and email blasts for more details.  Lastly, plans are in the works for a picnic (kids and spouses welcome) to be held at a park in the East Bay sometime in June or July.  Be on the lookout for details next month.

I believe that this past year was quite successful, with 15-20 attendees per event.  Moving forward, we will continue to find ways to reach out to a broader audience by offering a diverse menu of events (webinars, lunch seminars, tours, dinner meetings, social/networking opportunities) and selecting the most relevant and interesting technical topics.  We welcome your ideas for future events!

On behalf of the SPE GGS BOD, thank you for your continued support!

Thank you

Jennifer Hoffman
SPE GGS President
jhoffman@exponent.com
 

The GGS would like to thank Peter D. Colburn, Director, Business Development, Innovation & Technology, Acrylic Polymers, Evonik Cyro LLC for his excellent presentation to the SPE GGS in April. Special thanks to Jennifer Hoffman for her efforts on bringing together this annual event.

Look for more diverse topics and speakers. Check the CALENDAR section of our web site for our future meetings and social events. We hope to see you at one of our monthly meetings.

Tech Tip May 2011

Plastic Pellet Size

The size and shape of plastic resin pellets can be all over the board so to speak, and this does not even take into account the use of regrind within our mix.  In most shops the size of the pellet or shape is not even a consideration to the process.  This taken for granted piece of the processing puzzle though can jump up and have profound effects on the process in some cases.

An example is the processing a few years back of a nylon 6/6 with 30% glass fiber. The processor had been using the material from the same supplier for years as it was all specked in.  The issue was short shots on occasion in the parts which were causing quality issues.  Though in analyzing the issue there were more things wrong, the root cause so to speak from their view point was the fact that the pellets were larger, which they were.  That combined with other issues caused the material not to melt the same and in the same time frame thus on occasion placing an unmelted pellet into the gate and blocking it off, resulting in a short shot. From the supplier side they had changed extruders to manufacture the material which resulted in a larger pellet size.

Thus in pellet shape/size there are strand cut pellets, which typically have a length, and diameter, sometime almost square in shape, or oblong. To this it is added that the diameter may change. The other common shape is the round one, or hot cut produced by underwater pelletizer, these can be of varying sizes.  If one were to process PVC compound one would be aware of the cube and or hot cut and the fact that there is a feeding difference in the machine between these two cuts.

The issue with pellet size is:
1- Melting characteristics
2- Feeding characteristics
3- Drying characteristics
4- Blending characteristics

Melting is a fairly easy one to explain as the larger the pellet cross-sectional shape the longer it shall take to soften and or melt.

The Feeding is hard to explain as the shape and configuration of the pellets have to soften and stick to the wall of the barrel to be conveyed forward, and in some processes certain shapes do have an advantage. The settings of the real feed zone temperature can play a big part in this issue, along with bulk density of the pellets in the unmelted state.

Drying again goes to the size /volume within the pellets due to the fact that the larger a pellet is the longer it takes to heat up, and for the moisture to leave it.

Blending of materials with concentrates and regrinds is difficult when size and shape changes and may contribute to uneven blends and non-uniform mixes.

The bottom line is that the materials do change in size/ shape, particularly if a manufacture changes plant locations, or is in a debottlenecking process.  As a processor it may become something to be aware of, or possibly having too set into place to monitor incoming size once it is encountered.  Though in most cases the concern is minimized if you your process is robust enough to handle these variations.
Though only mentioned the use of regrind (to be discussed at a later date) can really open the can of worms so to speak given the wide variation in size and shape.

Thanks for the time,

TA-

Steven L Silvey
Silveys Plastic Consulting
360-882-3183
silveysplastics@hotmail.com

The next SPE Governance and Council meetings are scheduled for April 28 - May 1 in Boston, MA.

There are now new proceedures for the council meetings:

Remote Participation
Councilors may attend the Council meeting using SPE’s remote participation tools; however the Councilor must register in advance for this option.
After registration the Councilor will receive emailed instructions to test the system prior to the meeting:

Proxy Designation
As a reminder, there has been a recent change to Council Proxy rules:  At the February 2011 meeting, Council approved a change to Bylaw 6.2.5 such that all SPE Sections and Divisions must designate a proxy from within the same Section or Division.  Previously, Sections and Divisions outside of North America were permitted to designate a Proxy not from their group.
Proxy designation must be formally appointed by the Section or Division.

The May meetings at ANTEC will be attended by Brian Scappaticci as the SPE GGS Proxy.

Respectively Submitted,

Michael LoDico
SPE GGS Councilor
mld@plasco-corp.com

Education Corner

CHICO

This past month has been an exciting one for the Chico Chapter of SPE.  SPE members helped our school’s Society of Manufacturing Engineers team with ideas on how to manufacture tooling for a biodegradable thermoformed packaging system.  SME went on to win grand prize in this year’s Manufacturing Challenge at the AeroDef conference.

A paper authored by two SPE members and our adviser Dr. Greene is currently being presented at ANTEC in Boston and will be published in the Journal of SPE.  The paper is entitled “Compounding and blow molding of PHA and PHBV marine biodegradable plastic bottles” written by Chris Nomura, Sean Cox, and Dr. Joseph Greene.  It outlines the research that has been conducted here on compounding, processing, and testing of PHA bottles.  Chico State continues to be the only institution successfully able to blow-mold a marine biodegradable bottle.

Chris Nomura
cnomura@mail.csuchico.edu
SPE President, Chico Student Chapter

SJSU

The SJSU chapter of SPE will hold elections to select next year's officers this Thursday April 26th.
SPE and Materials advantage students will visit the NASA Ames Materials Research Lab this Friday April 27th.
Luis Ruelas and Tam Triet Ngo, members of SPE, were recognized on Monday April 26th during the "Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering Awards Reception".
Ngo received the outstanding Junior award while Ruelas received the Department Service Award.

Luis E. Ruelas
luisruelas@gmail.com
President Society of Plastic Engineers SJSU
 

SFSU

Michael Kim
mswkim@gmail.com
SPE@SFSU President
 

Scientists have unveiled a new kind of plastic that can repair itself when exposed to ordinary light.

The miracle material could extend the lifetime and improve the durability of dozens of polymer-based products, ranging from common household items such a bags and storage bins to inner tyres and expensive medical equipment, the researchers said.

A polymer is a large molecule, or macromolecule, made up of identical structural units linked through chemical bonds forged when atoms share electrons. Tough, rubbery plastics are today found in thousands of consumer goods, but the materials used are highly vulnerable to damage caused by scratches, cuts and punctures. Landfills are full of plastic objects discarded because they broke, cracked or leaked, sometimes causing safety hazards.

Most approaches to healable polymer-based materials require heating damaged areas and applying patches. Scientists led by Christoph Weder of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio took another tack, creating a self-healing rubbery material containing metal that absorbs ultraviolet light and converts it into localized heat.

"What we have developed is essentially a new plastic material composed of very small chains that stick together and assemble into much larger chains," said co-author Stuart Rowan, also of Case Western. "But what we have designed into the molecule is the ability to disassemble on exposure to light. When it disassembles the material flows into the crag and the system gets healed."

The study, published in Nature, shows that using light in this way has advantages over direct heating, such as pinpoint targeting of the damaged area, and repairing objects that are still carrying a stress load. Smart materials with an in-built ability to repair damage caused by normal wear-and-tear could prove useful in transportation, construction, packaging and many other applications, the researchers said.

"Healable polymers offer an alternative to the damage-and-discard cycle, and represent a first step in the development of polymeric materials that have much greater lifespans than currently available," Nancy Sottos and Jeffrey Moore, researchers at the University of Illinois, said in a companion commentary. But several hurdles remain before the proof-of-concept study can be translated into industrial-scale production, they said.

Many polymers are plastics, but other natural and synthetic materials also fall into the same category.

Synthetic polymers include artificial rubber, neoprene, nylon, PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene and silicone.
 

SOURCE: (AFP) – Apr 20, 2011

Polyaniline (PANI) is a conducting polymer of the semi-flexible rod polymer family. It was discovered in 1934 as anilin black. Polyaniline also exists naturally as part of a mixed copolymer with polyacetylene and polypyrrole in some melanins. Polymerized from the aniline monomer, polyaniline can be found in one of five distinct oxidation states:

leucoemeraldine
protoemeralsine
emeraldine
nigraniline
pernigraniline

In figure 1 x equals half the degree of polymerization (DP). Leucoemeraldine with n = 1, m = 0 is the fully reduced state. Pernigraniline is the fully oxidized state (n = 0, m = 1) with imine links instead of amine links. The emeraldine (n = m = 0.5) form of polyaniline, often referred to as emeraldine base (EB), is either neutral or only partially reduced or oxidized. Emeraldine base is regarded as the most useful form of polyaniline due to its high stability at room temperature, compared to the easily oxidized leucoemeraldine and the easily degraded pernigraniline. Additionally, the emeraldine base polyaniline can function as a semiconductor when doped by a protic acid.

Synthesis
A tried and tested method for the synthesis of polyaniline is by oxidative polymerization with ammonium peroxydisulfate as an oxidant. The components are both dissolved in 1 M hydrochloric acid and slowly (the reaction is very exothermic) added to each other. The polymer precipitates as small particles and the reaction product is a dispersion. The electrochemical method was discovered in 1862 as a test for the determination of small quantities of aniline. A two stage model for the formation of emeraldine base is proposed. In the first stage of the reaction the pernigraniline PS salt oxidation state is formed. In the second stage pernigraniline is reduced to the emeraldine salt as aniline monomer gets oxidized to the radical cation. In the third stage this radical cation couples with ES salt. This process can be followed by light scattering analysis which allows the determination of the absolute molar mass. According to one study, in the first step a DP of 265 is reached with the DP of the final polymer at 319. 19% of the final polymer is made up of in situ form aniline radical cation.

Properties
Polyaniline exists as bulk films or as dispersions. A recurring problem with these dispersions is particle aggregation which limits possible applications. A 2006 study proposes a strategy to prevent aggregation based on a model for nucleation and aggregate formation. The model identifies two nucleation modes for particle formation, one by so-called homogeneous nucleation forming long elongated nanofibers and very stable dispersions that can last for months. The other nucleation mode is by heterogeneous nucleation taking place on any alien body available in the reactor such as the surface of the reactor wall forming not elongated fiber but granular coral-like material. With polyaniline, formation by secondary nucleation also takes place on the nanofibers itself. In the study, heterogeneous nucleation is predominant when the reaction medium is stirred or when the reaction temperature is lowered. With both reaction conditions SEM imagery display nanofibers covered in a layer of coral like granules. The granules act as contact points for a nanoscale glue to link the particles together, causing aggregation. The explanation offered for the suppression of homogeneous nucleation is that this requires a local concentration gradient prior to the onset of nucleation which is destroyed by stirring or by low temperature.

10. Plenary speeches addressing polymers and plastics for the electronics industry, innovations in engineering thermoplastics and industry dynamics impacting the resin supply chain.
9. Three New Technology Forums.
8. Hundreds of technical presentations in 40 different areas in plastics.
7. Networking opportunities for first-time attendees, SPE Facebook® and LinkedIn® members, and ANTEC Twitter® followers.
6. Attend the “UMass Lowell Alumni - Plastic Industry Innovators” dinner on Tuesday, May 3.
5. New!  Nearly 100 poster presentations available for viewing on Monday and Tuesday.
4. A robust exhibit hall with the exhibitors you want to meet.  View the list of exhibitors.
3. New! 1-day, 2-day and 3-day in-depth technical seminars produced by PTI.
2. Updated! Consultants’ Corner*: Bring your challenge or problem and consult with an expert in your area – for free (*by appointment only).

1. The LARGEST conference dedicated specifically to plastics in the U.S. this year!

SPE and ANTEC Groups Continue To Grow on LinkedIn® and Facebook®

If you're a member of LinkedIn or Facebook, join the Society of Plastics Engineers and ANTEC™ Groups and display their logos in your profile.

The bioplastics industry may have a new symbol to slap on its products and packaging – an abstract plant to denote plastics made without petroleum.

More than 1,500 designers submitted entries into a contest seeking an icon to represent plastics created using potatoes, corn, wheat, tapioca, sugar, algae and other natural materials.

The competition, backed by El Segundo bioplastics maker Cereplast Inc., was inspired by the 1970 contest that produced the image of three green arrows now ubiquitously as the emblem of recycling.

Cereplast's founder and chief executive Frederic Scheer also founded the Biodegradable Products Institute and is chairman of the Bioplastics Council of the Society of the Plastics Industry.

Laura Howard, a graphic design student at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, nabbed the $25,000 grand prize. Her symbol looks a bit like the insignia found on Eva, the robot sent to look for plant life on a future, wasted version of Earth in the Pixar film Wall-E.

The entry was chosen by a panel of judges after 2.8 million public votes helped narrow down the field to 200 submissions.

An editorial last week in The Oregonian concludes that the Legislature has a choice: Adopt a flawed bill that bans plastic grocery bags and imposes new fees on Oregon shoppers or do nothing at all to reduce plastic litter. That's a false choice.

Oregon can reduce litter without short-sighted bans, fees and fines that punish shoppers. With true bipartisan leadership and cooperation among retailers, recyclers and plastics manufacturers, we can reduce litter through comprehensive plastics recycling that also creates jobs.

The history of litter reduction in Oregon is embodied in our state bottle bill. We proved that market incentives, industry cooperation and Oregonians' commitment to "keep Oregon green" are the foundation for effective legislation. Regrettably, the current proposal -- which would ban plastic bags used at grocery checkout stands (Senate Bill 536) while exempting all other plastic bags, films and packaging materials -- is based on limiting consumer choice, banning a convenient, reusable, recyclable product and imposing new fees and fines on shoppers.

There is a better way. An aggressive statewide recycling program that includes plastic bags, wraps and other plastic packaging materials would reduce litter while creating jobs. The current proposal would do neither.

Beyond the obvious, the ban proposal is further flawed: It only addresses plastic grocery bags when these bags make up less than 2 percent of all litter, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. A recent SOLV beach clean-up found that plastic bags made up 4 percent of the total haul. No amount of litter is acceptable, but a ban on plastic carryout bags that only applies to big retail grocery stores isn't the solution. A recycling program that's convenient and accessible to more Oregonians and captures all carryout bags and other plastics is the right choice.

SB536 also places the full burden on shoppers -- not retailers or manufacturers -- by limiting choice and mandating a fee to grocery bills or forcing Oregonians to purchase more expensive grocery bags. There are also hidden costs: Shoppers will need to buy other plastic bag products for trash liners, pet waste and other common household uses. Unlike plastic grocery bags that can be recycled, many checkout alternatives are made of heavier gauge, non-recyclable plastic, thereby introducing more plastic into the environment and litter stream.

Furthermore, why is there a proposal to ban a 100 percent recyclable product? Plastic bags are made with natural gas harvested in the U.S. and can be recycled. In fact, they are being recycled in facilities across the country, including Oregon. This industry is growing to keep up with the demand from manufacturers who increasingly want to use recycled plastics in their products. If Oregon adopts a comprehensive statewide plastics recycling program it will attract private investment by companies looking to enter this growing field. A ban fails on this front, too, hurting Oregon plastics recyclers and signaling that Oregon is not open for business.

The stated purpose of SB536 is to reduce plastics litter. No one is arguing against that objective. But bans, fees and fines will not move Oregon toward a cleaner, greener state. A bipartisan approach that continues Oregon's leadership role in recycling will.

As we did with bottle litter, Oregon has the opportunity to lead the nation once again. So the real choice is between backward policies based on fines, fees and bans that punish consumers or forward-looking policies that make it easier for Oregonians to recycle plastic materials, reduce litter and create jobs.

Source: Rodger Vingelen of Portland is the western sales manager for plastic bag manufacturer Hilex Poly Co.

Pipe extrusion is defined as a process of forcing the polymer melt through a shaping die (in this case: circular). The extrudate from the die is sized, cooled and the formed pipe is pulled to the winder or a cut off device with the aid of haul off device. Prior to this, the plastic material in the form of polymer granules is fed into the hopper, conveyed by a rotating screw through a long cylindrical barrel. This is subjected simultaneously to high temperature and pressure, forcing the melt through the die at a predetermined rate.

Materials
After Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyethylene's (PE) is the most widely used thermoplastic piping material.

Applications
Plastic pipe is used in virtually every phase of North American industry due primarily to its chemical resistance. With the recognition of its other features, including ease of installation, durability and cost advantages, plastic piping has achieved significant use for water mains, gas distribution, storm and sanitary sewers, interior plumbing, electrical conduits, power and communications ducts, chilled water piping and well casing.

Irrigation Drip, Sprinkler and Lift Irrigation
Water transportation Potable water, drainage, sewage
Industrial Chemicals, sandstowing, dewatering in mines, dredge pipelines, gas distribution and low voltage telecom/power cables

Advantages
Plastic piping systems have many distinct advantages over conventional piping materials.

Lightweight
Flexible
Long lasting
Economical
Easy for transportation & installation.
Recycleable

Moreover they are abrasion, corrosion and chemical resistant.
They require lower energy per unit volume (50-70% savings) compared to that required for manufacturing of steel / aluminum pipes, thus giving lower operating costs.
 

Like any environmentally savvy consumer, you probably try to keep plastic shopping bags and newspaper wrappers out of the trash.

Trouble is, they pile up.

A coalition of retailers and other groups has developed a green solution. And you might be sitting on it this summer. The Build With Bags program, aimed at turning Iowa's share of the 89 billion plastic bags used each year in the United States into picnic furniture, playground equipment and other products, celebrates its second year this Earth Day.

"We want to show people what can be done with plastic bags when they are recycled properly," said Jerry Fleagle, president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, which leads the combined effort of Metro Waste Authority, state environmental regulators, The Des Moines Register and Keep Iowa Beautiful.

"We felt that the plastic bag taxes and bans being talked about in other states were not the best solution for Iowa. But we also knew that the status quo was not good enough," Fleagle said.

A drop-off program has made available $100,000 in grants that schools, cities and community organizations have used to buy furniture, equipment and receptacles made from all those dry cleaning bags, grocery sacks and other recycled plastics. City officials in Windsor Heights, for example, used a $2,000 Build With Bags grant to purchase picnic tables for Colby Park. As part of the program, the waste authority sponsors the annual Build With Bags School Challenge where local schools gather bags for recycling. The 2010 contest generated more than 3 tons of bags.

Bags you can recycle:

Drop off at most grocery stores: Grocery bags, retail bags (remove handles, string), plastic newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags (remove paper, hangers), bread bags, sealable food storage bags (remove hard parts), bags from boxes of cereal and crackers, plastic wraps from paper towels, bathroom paper, diapers, etc.

Make sure bags are clean and empty. Do not include used plastic food wrap, bags with food residue or material that has been painted or glued as they can contaminate the recycled material.

Consumers can drop off any of the following at a Build With Bags bin found at most Iowa grocery stores:

- Grocery bags
- Retail bags (remove hard plastic or string handles)
- Plastic newspaper bags
- Dry cleaning bags (remove paper and hangers)
- Bread bags (with crumbs shaken out)
- Sealable food storage bags (with hard parts removed)
- Bags from boxes of cereal and crackers (with crumbs shaken out)
- Plastic wraps from products such as paper towels, bathroom paper, napkins, diapers, and cases of soft drinks

- Make sure bags are clean and empty. Do not include used plastic food wrap, bags with food residue, or material that has been painted or glued as other substances can contaminate the recycled material.

Source: Larry Ballard is a communications writer with Hy-Vee.

The Society of Plastics Engineers Mobile App is the premier mobile resource for plastics professionals. Use it to quickly find products and services, keep up with industry news and events, and stay in touch with the association – all conveniently from your iPhone.

TO VIEW THE iPHONE MOBILE APP FOR SPE --CLICK HERE

In addition to changing size, the strength and modulus of elasticity of plastic materials tend to decrease as the ambient temperature increases. The standard test for determining the DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE UNDER LOAD (DTUL) at 66 and 264 psi provides information on the ability of a material to carry a load at higher temperatures. The 66 psi means a light load and the 264 psi means a heavy load on a beam. The temperature of the loaded beam is raised until a certain amount of deflection is observed. The temperature when that deflection is reached is called the DTUL. Plastics usually have a higher DTUL at 66 psi than 264 psi because of the lower load.
Note: The DTUL is sometimes referred to as the Heat Distortion Temperature or HDT.

TYPICAL DEFLECTION TEMPERATURES, LOADED TO 264 psi (F)

Silicon materials  850
Nylons, 30% glass reinforced  495
Epoxy, mineral, glass reinforced  400
Acetals, glass reinforced  325
Polycarbonates  295
Nylons, general purpose  220
Acrylics  180
Propylene, general purpose  140

Impact strength is also affected by changes in temperature in most plastic materials. The changes in strength can be significant, especially as the temperature is lowered. Check the supplier literature carefully.

MAY 2011
 

May 3, San Jose
NorCal Society for Applied Spectroscopy Dinner Meeting
"Targeted SERS Nanosensors for Time-Lapse Chemical Microscopy of Live Cell Response to Drug-Based Stimuli"
For more info, or to register, contact Steve Barnett at: Steve.Barnett@Barnett-Technical.com

May 4, Napa area
Tribology Society one-day short course on lubrication
http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102622079603-27/Northern+California+Section.pdf

May 4-5, San Jose
PTI, Inc. two day short course overview of Semiconductor Manufacturing
http://www.pti-inc.com/Courses/2dayov.html

May 5, anywhere, 7 am Pacific time
Adhesives and Sealants Council, Inc. webinar
"Advanced Formulation of Epoxy-Based Structural Adhesives"
http://www.ascouncil.org/industry/Webinars/

May 5, --10am Pacific Time
ThermoScientific webinar
"Simultaneous rheometry and FT-IR spectroscopy"
http://archives.subscribermail.com/msg/3cd1c0777d9547d299f6f1a8d1df0917.htm

May 5, Santa Clara
Evans Analytical Group Tutorial
"Working Smarter - A Course in Analytical Techniques (General Overview)"
http://www.eaglabs.com/training/

May 9, -- 9am Pacific Time
Free webinar
"Simplifying Proteomics Using Chip-based Nano LC"
www.chromatographyonline.com/nanohplcamericas

May 10-11, San Francisco
AIChE short courses
"Flow of Solids in Bins, Hoppers, Chutes and Feeders' & May 12, "Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Solids"
http://htmlemail.asme.org/ASMETraining/Chemicalcourses2011_0118.html?campaign=we0324&channel=email01182011

May 11-25,
Adhesives & Sealants Council, Inc.
"Adhesives 101 Three-part Webinar Series"
http://www.ascouncil.org/industry/Webinars/

May 17, Santa Clara
IEEE nano group annual symposium
“Nanotechnology - Consumer Applications”
http://ewh.ieee.org/r6/san_francisco/nntc/

May 18, San Jose
NorCal AVS meeting: "Advances in CMP Consumables"
http://www.avsusergroups.org/cmpug/cmpug_announce.htm

May 18, Mountain View
ASM Dinner Lecture
"Interfacial Energy of Nanopatterned Surfaces" --Dr. Jeffrey Kuna, MIT
For more information, or to register, contact Al Kwong, al_kwong_41@yahoo.com

May 5, --7am Pacific Time
Adhesives and Sealants Council, Inc. webinar "Advanced Formulation of Epoxy-Based Structural Adhesives"
http://www.ascouncil.org/industry/Webinars/

May 19, San Jose
MEPTEC MEMS Symposium
http://meptec.org/meptec9thannualm.html

May 19, Santa Clara
Local SME one-day event
"Innovation Conference for Engineers"
http://smeinnovationconference2011.eventbrite.com/

May 20-22, Seattle
3-day short course
"Infrared Spectral Interpretation"
http://pacslabs.com/courses/30infraredspectralinterpretationcourse.php
 

JUNE 2011

June 22, Fremont
Free vendor seminar by Thermo Scientific "Spectroscopic Solutions"
www.thermoscientific.com/sss
 

Lower density and improved scratch resistance are two of the key benefits possible when a plastics processor replaces talc fillers with a new reinforcing agent supplied by Milliken. The material actually was introduced last year but since then has started to gain traction, especially in use for automotive interior parts.

Silvia Bubenikova, development engineer at Milliken's European headquarters of Gent, Belgium, told PlasticsToday that the filler, called Hyperform HPR-803, is a synthetic mineral fiber. Milliken is known in the plastics industry for its clarifiers and nucleating agents but the company's history and the bulk of its business =is in the textiles industry. The fibers are less dense than talc, she said, and also improve a part's scratch resistance. When talc is replaced one-for-one by weight with these fibers, the mechanical properties of a part remain or are improved, she said, but at a lower part weight. Bubenikova spoke with PlasticsToday at last week's Plastics in automotive engineering event in Mannheim, Germany.

Though the fibers can see use in any polyolefin, she said the most likely application would be in polypropylene parts, and specifically interior automotive parts. PP has made huge inroads in the past decade in automotive interiors, and typically these interior parts are filled with talc, but scratching them can leave a white scar that exist for the life of a vehicles.

The fibers are translucent and can be easily colored, more so than talc, according to Bubenikova. Many fiber-filled parts (think glass fibers) need a surface film or other handling to achieve top-notch aesthetics, or simply are destined for applications out of a passenger's sight, but she said the surface finish of PP parts molded filled with these synthetic fibers is attractive enough for use in cars without such handling.

Source: Plastics Today

There is also considerable effort being expended by material suppliers to try and improve the conductivity of plastics for applications requiring EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio frequency interference) shielding. This becomes more and more critical as circuitry is getting smaller and denser. The improvement in conductivity is currently achieved by adding carbon fibers, metal fiber, and/or metal flakes as a filler in the material or coating the plastic part with conductive paint.

EMI and RFI are electromagnetic energy that can be emitted by an electronic product and affect the operation of other electronic equipment near it. Conversely, energy from the other products could interfere with the operation of a given product. FCC regulations control the amount of energy that can be emitted by a product.

Examples of EMI and RFI interference are: when you hear other noise and/or stations on your car radio; when a CB broadcast is heard on your FM receiver; when you see snow on your TV set when an appliance is run; warnings in restaurants that a microwave is being used.

The screen or perforated metal seen in your microwave door is an example of EMI/RFI shielding. Coaxial cable for your TV antenna is a wire surrounded by a woven metal shield that is to be grounded. The shield absorbs energy coming in from outside sources and keeps the signal in the wire pure while preventing that signal from escaping and interfering with some other electronic product.

Another serious potential problem is the static charge that can be picked up walking across a room and zap an electronic product. The charge can often be harmlessly dissipated by correctly grounding the equipment. The application of an anti-static may also be used to provide a temporary solution.

Yellowstone National Park is working with Dalton, Ga.-based Universal Textile Technologies to recycle plastic bottles generated by the park’s 3.5 million annual visitors. Universal Textile is buying the recyclable plastic bottles that Yellowstone visitors discard each year and converting them into material used to manufacture carpet and synthetic turf products.

Until now, most of the plastics collected in Yellowstone were sold and shipped overseas, where they were used to produce plastic products that were later sold back to the U.S. Yellowstone is located primarily in Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Two of the goals of the recycling partnership are reducing the amount of plastic bottles sent to landfills, and helping Yellowstone meet its recycling targets while protecting and creating U.S. jobs.

"Yellowstone was created as the world's first national park in 1872," says Jim Evanoff, an environmental protection specialist with Yellowstone National Park. "We have an obligation to set the example for promoting sound environmental stewardship practices that will serve as a model for future generations. This new partnership not only diverts plastics from landfills, it dramatically decreases the fuel and other resources used to transport materials around the planet."

Universal Textile Technologies is converting the plastic bottles into a nonwoven fleece material used to manufacture BioCel and EnviroCel sustainable backings for carpet and synthetic turf. BioCel and EnviroCel use Celceram, a refined material recovered from coal combustion in electric utility power plants that is then combined with soybean-based polyols derived from domestically grown soybeans. The backings are certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. They are moisture-resistant, insulate against energy loss, reduce ambient noise and strengthen the structural integrity of carpet and synthetic turf, according to the company. Other members of the partnership are Four Corners Recycling; CPE, Inc.; and the United Soybean Board (USB). USB helped forge the partnership through its relationships with both Universal and Yellowstone National Park. The Atlanta-based Georgia Tech Research Institute has provided third-party verification for the recycling effort.

Universal Textile Technologies supplies the carpet industry with multiple backing systems that are used in mid- to high-traffic commercial, hospitality, residential, corporate, healthcare, education and lodging markets. Its products also are used to produce synthetic turf for sports fields and synthetic grass for landscape applications.
 

Source: Government Product News & Government Procurement

Many designers will ARBITRARILY put a +/-.005 tolerance on a part if it is to be machined. Quiz the designer if the tolerances can't be increased. Remember that a piece of paper is about .003 inch thick, +/- .06 is equal to 1/16 of an inch, and +/- .13 equals 1/8 of an inch. Look at a ruler to visualize the size of the tolerance and think about the tools available to make the cut. Work with the designer to specify the tolerances really needed to make his part work and that can really be produced with the equipment available.

NEWS AND LINKS
 

SPE GGS VIDEO LENDING LIBRARY	ANTEC INFORMATION PAGE	HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST
SPE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS	SPE ON-LINE STORE	PIP CHAT & MESSAGE BOARD
SPE WEBINARS	SPE ON-LINE TECHNICAL LIBRARY	SPE FOUNDATION GRANTS
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