The main goal of the book is to cover the field of automatic process control and instrumentation for plastics processing as well as the new topics of statistical process control and process monitoring, which are required to document good manufacturing practices.

The book presents a thorough and detailed report on plastics process analysis and instrumentation for modern manufacturing in the plastics industry.

Process analysis is the starting point since plastics processing is different from the processing of metals, ceramics, and other materials. Plastics materials show unique behavior in terms of heat transfer, fluid flow, viscoelastic behavior, and a dependence of the previous time, temperature and shear history which determines how the material responds during processing and its end use. Many of the manufacturing processes are continuous or cyclical in nature. The systems are flow systems in which the process variables, such as time, temperature, position, melt and hydraulic pressure, must be controlled to achieve a satisfactory product which is typically specified by critical dimensions and physical properties which vary with the processing conditions.

Instrumentation has to be selected so that it survives the harsh manufacturing environment of high pressures, temperatures and shear rates, and yet it has to have a fast response to measure the process dynamics. At many times the measurements have to be in a non-contact mode so as not to disturb the melt or the finished product. Plastics resins are reactive systems. The resins will degrade if the process conditions are not controlled. Analysis of the process allows one to strategize how to minimize degradation and optimize end-use properties.

Audience

Polymer scientists, manufacturing and plastics engineers in various industries such as automotive, aircraft, packaging, construction, electrical, etc. will find this book essential. Instrument manufacturers will find this work important too. The book will also serve the needs of engineers and specialists who have only a passing contact with the plastics and composites industries but need to know more.