Preface	8
	Contents	10
	1 Introduction to Industrial Polymers	16
	1.1 Beginning of Industrial Polymers	17
	1.2 Polymer Families	19
	1.3 Thermoplastic Polymers	20
	1.3.1 Classifi cation of Polymers by Performance	20
	1.3.2 Molecular Structure of Industrial Polymers	22
	1.4 Manufacturing of Industrial Polymers	23
	1.5 Compounding the Industrial Polymers	27
	1.6 Additives	28
	1.7 Fillers and Reinforcements	29
	1.8 Impact Modifi ers	30
	1.9 Colorants	30
	2 Polymeric Materials	32
	2.1 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-StyreneCopolymer (ABS)	32
	2.1.1 Advantages of ABS	33
	2.1.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of ABS	34
	2.1.3 Typical Applications of ABS	34
	2.2 Acetal (POM, Polyacetal)	35
	2.2.1 Advantages of Acetal	38
	2.2.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Acetal	38
	2.2.3 Typical Applications of Acetal	38
	2.3 Polymethyl Metacrylate (Acrylic, PMMA)	40
	2.3.1 Advantages of Acrylic	41
	2.3.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Acrylic	41
	2.3.3 Typical Applications of Acrylic	42
	2.4 High Temperature Nylon (HTN)	42
	2.4.1 Advantages of HTN	43
	2.4.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of HTN	44
	2.4.3 Typical Applications of HTN	44
	2.5 Ionomer Polymers	45
	2.5.1 Advantages of Ionomers	46
	2.5.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Ionomers	46
	2.5.3 Typical Applications of Ionomers	47
	2.6 Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	47
	2.6.1 Advantages of LCP	48
	2.6.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of LCP	48
	2.6.3 Typical Applications of LCP	49
	2.7 Polyamide (PA, Nylon)	49
	2.7.1 Advantages of Nylon	52
	2.7.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Nylon	52
	2.7.3 Typical Applications of Nylon	53
	2.8 Polyetherimide (PEI)	55
	2.8.1 Advantages of PEI	56
	2.8.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PEI	56
	2.8.3 Typical Applications of PEI	57
	2.9 Polyarylate (PAR)	57
	2.9.1 Advantages of PAR	59
	2.9.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PAR	59
	2.9.3 Typical Applications of PAR	60
	2.10 Polyetherether Ketone (PEEK)	60
	2.10.1 Advantages of PEEK	61
	2.10.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PEEK	62
	2.10.3 Typical Applications of PEEK	62
	2.11 Polycarbonate (PC)	62
	2.11.1 Advantages of PC	64
	2.11.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PC	64
	2.11.3 Typical Applications of PC	65
	2.12 Modifi ed Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)	66
	2.12.1 Advantages of PPO	67
	2.12.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PPO	68
	2.12.3 Typical Applications of PPO	68
	2.13 Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)	69
	2.13.1 Advantages of PBT	70
	2.13.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PBT	70
	2.13.3 Typical Applications of PBT	70
	2.14 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)	71
	2.14.1 Advantages of PET	73
	2.14.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PET	74
	2.14.3 Typical Applications of PET	74
	2.15 Polyethylene (PE)	74
	2.15.1 Advantages of PE	76
	2.15.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PE	76
	2.15.3 Typical Applications of PE	77
	2.16 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)	78
	2.17 Ethylene N-Butyl Acrylate (ENBA)	78
	2.18 Ethylene Methyl Acrylate (EMA)	79
	2.19 Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate (EEA)	79
	2.20 Ultrahigh Molecular WeightPolyethylene (UHMWPE)	79
	2.21 Metallocene Polyethylene (MPE)	79
	2.22 Polytetrafl uoroethylene (PTFE)	80
	2.22.1 Advantages of PTFE	83
	2.22.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PTFE	83
	2.22.3 Typical Applications of PTFE	84
	2.23 Polyphenylene Sulfi de (PPS)	85
	2.23.1 Advantages of PPS	86
	2.23.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PPS	86
	2.23.3 Typical Applications of PPS	87
	2.24 Polypropylene (PP)	87
	2.24.1 Advantages of PP	89
	2.24.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PP	89
	2.24.3 Typical Applications of PP	90
	2.25 Polystyrene (PS)	91
	2.25.1 Advantages of PS	92
	2.25.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PS	92
	2.25.3 Typical Applications of PS	93
	2.26 Polysulfone (PSU)	93
	2.26.1 Advantages of PSU	95
	2.26.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PSU	95
	2.26.3 Typical Applications of PSU	95
	2.27 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)	96
	2.27.1 Advantages of PVC	97
	2.27.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PVC	98
	2.27.3 Typical Applications of PVC	98
	2.28 Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN)	99
	2.28.1 Advantages of SAN	100
	2.28.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of SAN	100
	2.28.3 Typical Applications of SAN	100
	2.28.4 Typical Applications for OSA and ASA	101
	3 Thermoplastic Elastomers(TPE)	102
	3.1 Advantages of TPE	102
	3.2 Disadvantages of TPE	103
	3.3 Thermoplastic Elastomer Families	104
	3.4 Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer(TPU)	105
	3.4.1 Advantages of TPU	107
	3.4.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of TPU	107
	3.4.3 Typical Applications of TPU	108
	3.5 Styrenic Block Copolymer (SBS	108
	3.5.1 Advantages of SBS	110
	3.5.2 Disadvantages and Limitation of SBS	110
	3.5.3 Typical Applications of SBS	110
	3.6 Polyolefin Thermoplastic Elastomer(TPO)	111
	3.6.1 Advantages of TPO	113
	3.6.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of TPO	114
	3.6.3 Typical Applications of TPO	114
	3.7 Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV)	115
	3.7.1 Advantages of TPV	117
	3.7.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of TPV	117
	3.7.3 Typical Applications of TPV	117
	3.8 Melt Processible Rubber (MPR)	118
	3.8.1 Advantages of MPR	120
	3.8.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of MPR	120
	3.8.3 Typical Applications of MPR	120
	3.9 Block Copolyester ThermoplasticElastomer	121
	3.9.1 Advantages	124
	3.9.2 Disadvantages and Limitations	125
	3.9.3 Typical Applications	125
	3.10 Polyamide Thermoplastic Elastomer	126
	3.10.1 Advantages	128
	3.10.2 Disadvantages and Limitations	128
	3.10.3 Typical Applications	129
	4 Liquid Injection MoldingSilicone (LIM®)	130
	4.1 LIM® Silicone Processing	131
	4.1.1 Liquid Components Feeding System	131
	4.1.2 Injection Molding Machine Modifi cations	132
	4.1.3 LIM® Mold Requirements	132
	4.1.4 LIM® Mold Design Recommendations	133
	4.2 Advantages of LIM®	133
	4.3 Disadvantages and Limitations of LIM®	134
	4.4 Typical Applications of LIM®	134
	5 Industrial Thermoset Polymers	136
	5.1 Polyester Alkyd (PAK)	138
	5.1.1 Advantages of PAK	139
	5.1.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PAK	139
	5.1.3 Typical Applications of PAK	139
	5.2 Diallyl Phthalate/ Isophthalate(DAP, DAIP)	140
	5.2.1 Advantages of DAP	141
	5.2.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of DAP	141
	5.2.3 Typical Applications of DAP	142
	5.3 Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)	142
	5.3.1 Advantages of MF	143
	5.3.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of MF	144
	5.3.3 Typical Applications of MF	144
	5.4 Cellulose Ester	144
	5.4.1 Advantages of Cellulose Ester	144
	5.4.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of CelluloseEster	145
	5.4.3 Typical Applications of Cellulose Ester	145
	5.5 Cyanate	146
	5.5.1 Advantages of Cyanate	148
	5.5.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Cyanate	149
	5.5.3 Typical Applications of Cyanate	149
	5.6 Epoxy (EP)	149
	5.6.1 Advantages of Epoxy	151
	5.6.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Epoxy	152
	5.6.3 Typical Applications of Epoxy	152
	5.7 Phenol Formaldehyde (Phenolic, PF)	152
	5.7.1 Advantages of Phenolics	154
	5.7.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Phenolics	155
	5.7.3 Typical Applications of Phenolics	155
	5.8 Polybutadiene (PB)	156
	5.8.1 Advantages of PB	156
	5.8.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PB	156
	5.8.3 Typical Applications of PB	156
	5.9 Bismaleimide (BMI)	157
	5.9.1 Advantages of BMI	158
	5.9.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of BMI	158
	5.9.3 Typical Applications of BMI	158
	5.10 Unsaturated Polyester (UP)	158
	5.10.1 Advantages of UP	161
	5.10.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of UP	161
	5.10.3 Typical Applications of UP	161
	5.11 Polyimide (PI)	162
	5.11.1 Advantages of PI	163
	5.11.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PI	163
	5.11.3 Typical Applications of PI	164
	5.12 Polyxylene	165
	5.12.1 Advantages of Polyxylene	165
	5.12.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Polyxylene	165
	5.12.3 Typical Applications of Polyxylene	165
	5.13 Polyurethane (PUR)	166
	5.13.1 Advantages of PUR	169
	5.13.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of PUR	169
	5.13.3 Typical Applications of PUR	170
	5.14 Silicone (Si)	170
	5.14.1 Advantages of Si	171
	5.14.2 Disadvantages and Limitations of Si	171
	5.14.3 Typical Applications of Si	172
	5.15 Urethane Hybrid	173
	5.15.1 Reaction Injection Molding (RIM)	174
	5.15.2 SRIM Processing	174
	5.15.3 Advantages of Urethane Hybrid	175
	5.15.4 Disadvantages and Limitations of UrethaneHybrid	175
	5.15.5 Typical Applications of Urethane Hybrid	175
	5.16 Vinyl Ester (BPA)	176
	5.16.1 Advantages of this Process	178
	5.16.2 Advantages of Vinyl Ester	178
	5.16.3 Disadvantages and Limitations of Vinyl Ester	179
	5.16.5 Typical Applications of Vinyl Ester	179
	Selected References	180
	Appendix	182
	Acronyms for Polymeric Materials	182
	Common Acronyms	184
	Process Acronyms	184
	Reinforcement and Filler Acronyms	185
	English and Metric Units, Conversion Guide	186
	Subject Index	188
	About the Author	194