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Modern
Plastics
Handbook
Modern Plastics
and
Charles A. Harper Editor in Chief
Technology Seminars, Inc.
Lutherville, Maryland

McGraw-Hill
New York San Francisco Washington, D.C. Auckland Bogot
Caracas Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan
Montreal New Delhi San Juan Singapore
Sydney Tokyo Toronto

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Modern plastics handbook / Modern Plastics, Charles A. Harper (editor in chief).
p.
cm.
ISBN 0-07-026714-6
1. Plastics. I. Modern Plastics. II. Harper, Charles A.
TA455.P5 M62 1999
668.4 dc21
99-056522
CIP

McGraw-Hill
Copyright 2000 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Printed in the
United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States
Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or
retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 DOC/DOC 0 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
ISBN 0-07-026714-6
The sponsoring editor of this book was Robert Esposito. The editing
supervisor was David E. Fogarty, and the production supervisor was
Sherri Souffrance. It was set in New Century Schoolbook per the MHT
design by Paul Scozzari and Deirdre Sheean of McGraw-Hills
Professional Book Group, in Hightstown, N.J.
Printed and bound by R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company..
This book was printed on recycled, acid-free paper containing
a minimum of 50% recycled, de-inked fiber.
McGraw-Hill books are available at special quantity discounts to use
as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training
programs. For more information, please write to the Director of Special
Sales, Professional Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Two Penn Plaza, New
York, NY 10121-2298. Or contact your local bookstore.

Information contained in this work has been obtained by The McGrawHill Companies, Inc. (McGraw-Hill) from sources believed to be reliable.
However, neither McGraw-Hill nor its authors guarantee the accuracy or
completeness of any information published herein and neither McGrawHill nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or
damages arising out of use of this information. This work is published
with the understanding that McGraw-Hill and its authors are supplying
information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. If such services are required, the assistance of an
appropriate professional should be sought.

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Contributors

Anne-Marie Baker University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Mass. (CHAP. 1)

Carol M. F. Barry University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Mass. (CHAP. 5)
Allison A. Cacciatore
Fred Gastrock
John L. Hull
Carl P. Izzo

TownsendTarnell, Inc., Mt. Olive, N.J. (CHAP. 4)

TownsendTarnell, Inc., Mt. Olive, N.J. (CHAP. 4)

Hall/Finmac, Inc., Warminster, Pa. (CHAP. 6)

Consultant, Murrysville, Pa. (CHAP. 10)

Louis N. Kattas

TownsendTarnell, Inc., Mt. Olive, N.J. (CHAP. 4)

Peter Kennedy

Moldflow Corporation, Lexington, Mass. (CHAP. 7,

Inessa R. Levin

TownsendTarnell, Inc., Mt. Olive, N.J. (CHAP. 4)

SEC.

3)

William R. Lukaszyk Universal Dynamics, Inc., North Plainfield, N.J.

(CHAP. 7, SEC. 1)
Joey Meade University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Mass. (CHAP. 1)
James Margolis Montreal, Quebec, Canada (CHAP. 3)
Stephen A. Orroth University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Mass. (CHAP. 5)
ABB Transmission Technology Institute, Raleigh, N.C.

Edward M. Petrie
(CHAP. 9)

Jordon I. Rotheiser

Rotheiser Design, Inc., Highland Park, Ill. (CHAP. 8)

Susan E. Selke Michigan State University, School of Packaging, East

Lansing, Mich. (CHAP. 12)
Ranganath Shastri
Peter Stoughton
Ralph E. Wright

Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. (CHAP. 11)

Conair, Pittsburgh, Pa. (CHAP. 7,

SEC.

2)

Consultant, Yarmouth, Maine (CHAP. 2)

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Preface

The Modern Plastics Handbook has been prepared as a third member

of the well-known and highly respected team of publications which
includes Modern Plastics magazine and Modern Plastics World
Encyclopedia. The Modern Plastics Handbook offers a thorough and
comprehensive technical coverage of all aspects of plastics materials
and processes, in all of their forms, along with coverage of additives,
auxiliary equipment, plastic product design, testing, specifications and
standards, and the increasingly critical subject of plastics recycling
and biodegradability. Thus, this Handbook will serve a wide range of
interests. Likewise, with presentations ranging from terms and definitions and fundamentals, to clearly explained technical discussions, to
extensive data and guideline information, this Handbook will be useful for all levels of interest and backgrounds. These broad objectives
could only have been achieved by an outstanding and uniquely diverse
group of authors with a combination of academic, professional, and
business backgrounds. It has been my good fortune to have obtained
such an elite group of authors, and it has been a distinct pleasure to
have worked with this group in the creation of this Handbook. I would
like to pay my highest respects and offer my deep appreciation to all
of them.
The Handbook has been organized and is presented as a thorough
sourcebook of technical explanations, data, information, and guidelines for all ranges of interests. It offers an extensive array of property
and performance data as a function of the most important product and
process variables. The chapter organization and coverage is well suited
to reader convenience for the wide range of product and equipment
categories. The first three chapters cover the important groups of plastic materials, namely, thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers.
Then comes a chapter on the all important and broad based group
of additives, which are so critical for tailoring plastic properties.
Following this are three chapters covering processing technologies and

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Preface

equipment for all types of plastics, and the all important subject of
auxiliary equipment and components for optimized plastics processing. Next is a most thorough and comprehensive chapter on design of
plastic products, rarely treated in such a practical manner. After this,
two chapters are devoted to the highly important plastic materials and
process topics of coatings and adhesives, including surface finishing
and fabricating of plastic parts. Finally, one chapter is devoted to the
fundamentally important areas of testing and standards, and one
chapter to the increasingly critical area of plastic recycling and
biodegradability.
Needless to say, a book of this caliber could not have been achieved
without the guidance and support of many people. While it is not possible to name all of the advisors and constant supporters, I feel that I
must highlight a few. First, I would like to thank the Modern Plastics
team, namely, Robert D. Leaversuch, Executive Editor of Modern
Plastics magazine, Stephanie Finn, Modern Plastics Events Manager,
Steven J. Schultz, Managing Director, Modern Plastics World
Encyclopedia, and William A. Kaplan, Managing Editor of Modern
Plastics World Encyclopedia. Their advice and help was constant.
Next, I would like to express my very great appreciation to the team
from Society of Plastics Engineers, who both helped me get off the
ground and supported me readily all through this project. They are
Michael R. Cappelletti, Executive Director, David R. Harper, Past
President, John L. Hull, Honored Service Member, and Glenn L. Beall,
Distinguished Member. In addition, I would like to acknowledge, with
deep appreciation, the advice and assistance of Dr. Robert Nunn and
Dr. Robert Malloy of University of Massachusetts, Lowell for their
guidance and support, especially in selection of chapter authors. Last,
but not least, I am indebted to Robert Esposito, Executive Editor of
the McGraw-Hill Professional Book Group, for both his support and
patience in my editorial responsibilities for this Modern Plastics
Handbook.
It is my hope, and expectation, that this book will serve its reader
well. Any comments or suggestions will be welcomed.
Charles A. Harper