best practices
PART ONE How to Determine Viscosity Data Using a Slit-Die Viscometer
Using a slit-die viscometer connected to a lab extruder can generate accurate data on melt viscosity at various shear rates and temperatures, a useful QC tool in processing.
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Simple Scale-Up Calculations for Melting
You can avoid complicated melting equations when designing or evaluating a screw by using simpler methods that can save time and provide good results.
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Heat Deflection Temperature vs. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (Part 3)
DMA provides a rich and detailed picture of polymer performance, and it can be challenging to understand all the things that we can and should know about our materials. But the fact that it may be hard does not mean that it should not be attempted.
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Molder Increases Capabilities—But Not Risk—With Flexible Two-Shot Technology
A customer request for multi-material molding presented a market opportunity and potential financial peril: How do you add two-shot without also overextending yourself from an investment perspective?
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Time to Turn Up the Heat on Your Hot-Runner Maintenance Program
Molders are running more hot-runner manifolds than ever, a trend that’s expected to continue. But once you have them, you need to keep them in shape. Follow these tips to get going.
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What’s With All the Static?
Static buildup on polymers can cause a variety of problems, some rather unpleasant. Yet there’s an inexpensive way to eliminate it, and we have data as proof.
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Follow These Guidelines to Select the Right Pelletizing System
Which pelletizing system is right for your application? Is the one you’re using today necessarily the right choice for tomorrow? Here’s is an analysis that can help you decide among the three major options.
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What You Should Know About Injection Mold Safety Straps
Every mold should have one in order to be safe and OSHA compliant.
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PART 2 Heat Deflection Temperature vs. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
Here’s a real-world example of a part failure demonstrating why DMA curves have more value than single-point data generated by HDT.
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Creating Tomorrow’s Workers Today
Plastics processors are increasingly taking matters into their own hands when it comes to bridging the yawning skills gap, drawing a sharpened focus on high schoolers. Could Switzerland’s apprentice system provide a model?
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