Plastics Materials

Materials used in plastics processing include plastics, thermoplastics or polymers, materials are the stuff of which molded and extruded parts are made. Broad subcategories include commodity materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC; and engineering materials such as nylon, acetal and ABS for applications requiring higher performance.

Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastics: Why Entanglements — Not Just Molecular Weight — Drive Plastic Performance
Materials Know How

Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastics: Why Entanglements — Not Just Molecular Weight — Drive Plastic Performance

Ever try running your fingers through tangled hair? Yeah … that’s not fun, but that’s what happens at the molecular level when polymer chains reach the right length. They wrap around each other, intertwine and … get stuck — and those tangles are the real reason plastics perform the way they do.

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How to Optimize Injection Molding of PHA and PHA/PLA Blends
Consumer Products

How to Optimize Injection Molding of PHA and PHA/PLA Blends

Here are processing guidelines aimed at both getting the PHA resin into the process without degrading it, and reducing residence time at melt temperatures.

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The Effects of Time on Polymers
best practices

The Effects of Time on Polymers

Last month we briefly discussed the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of polymers and reviewed some of the structural considerations that govern these effects.

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The Effects of Stress on Polymers
processing tips

The Effects of Stress on Polymers

Previously we have discussed the effects of temperature and time on the long-term behavior of polymers. Now let's take a look at stress.

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Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials, Part 26: High-Performance Thermoplastics
Materials Know How

Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials, Part 26: High-Performance Thermoplastics

The majority of the polymers that today we rely on for outstanding performance — such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone and PPS — were introduced in the period between 1965 and 1985. Here’s how they entered your toolbox of engineering of materials.    

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Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials, Part 25: Silicones
Materials Know How

Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials, Part 25: Silicones

The long road to the development of silicone resulted in a chemistry that is remarkably versatile.  

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The Importance of Melt & Mold Temperature
best practices

The Importance of Melt & Mold Temperature

Molders should realize how significantly process conditions can influence the final properties of the part.

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Blending & Dosing

Latest Materials News And Updates

‘Super’ Small Color Masterbatch Pellets for PVC
Materials

‘Super’ Small Color Masterbatch Pellets for PVC

Delta Tecnic’s new SSP is manufactured using an advanced process distinct from traditional cryopellet production.

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Expanded Line of ‘Super’ Soft TPEs for Medical Devices
Medical

Expanded Line of ‘Super’ Soft TPEs for Medical Devices

Kraiburg TPE has expanded its Thermolast M series of TPE compounds by additional hardness degrees.

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CJ Biomaterials Hires Leah Ford as Director of Marketing
sustainability

CJ Biomaterials Hires Leah Ford as Director of Marketing

Ford has background in biopolymer technology having worked for PLA bioplastics supplier NatureWorks.

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Dow Revoloop Resins for Cable Jacketing With Postconsumer Content
Materials

Dow Revoloop Resins for Cable Jacketing With Postconsumer Content

Announced resins will incorporate recycled material.

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ExxonMobil Launches New Materials Portfolio Brand
polyolefins

ExxonMobil Launches New Materials Portfolio Brand

The Signature Polymers brand, which includes all polyolefins, is focused on delivering best-in-class service and partnership.

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Biomass Balanced LCP for Reduced CO2 Emissions and Improved Renewable Content
Materials

Biomass Balanced LCP for Reduced CO2 Emissions and Improved Renewable Content

Polyplastics’ Laperos bG LCP is slated for commercialization in spring 2025.

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Plastics Size Reduction

Featured Posts

Prices Drop for All Five Commodity Resins
polyolefins

Prices Drop for All Five Commodity Resins

While PE price reductions were not as apparent, they too were following the year-end price trajectory of PP, PS, PVC and PET.

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Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastic — Part 1: The Repeat Unit
Materials Know How

Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastic — Part 1: The Repeat Unit

What are the basic building blocks of plastics and how do they affect the processing of that material and its potential applications in the real world? Meet the repeat unit.

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Prices Up for PE, ABS, PC, Nylons 6 and 66; Down for PP, PET and Flat for PS and PVC
polystyrene

Prices Up for PE, ABS, PC, Nylons 6 and 66; Down for PP, PET and Flat for PS and PVC

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

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Part 3: The World of Molding Thermosets
Materials

Part 3: The World of Molding Thermosets

Thermosets were the prevalent material in the early history of plastics, but were soon overtaken by thermoplastics in injection molding applications.

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Prices Drop for PP, Largely Flat for PE, PS, PVC, and PET
resin pricing

Prices Drop for PP, Largely Flat for PE, PS, PVC, and PET

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

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Let's Take a Journey Into the World of Thermosets: Part 2
Materials Know How

Let's Take a Journey Into the World of Thermosets: Part 2

Most thermoset molding processes still treat the mold like a black box where the curing process is invisible and mysterious, and nobody knows what is happening to the material until the mold opens. That just isn’t so.    

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