Plastics: How Structure Determines Properties (Hanser Publishers)

By Geza Gruenwald

The rapidly expanding range of plastics materials and applications has made it imperative to understand the similarities and differences between available materials. As testimony to the vital importance of the selection process, a great number of books are available on materials sciences and applications. Most of these, however, are limited to a specific kind of material, or are written for science-oriented readers rather than practitioners. This book is different. Unlike most plastics texts, it disregards polymer chemistry, the description of standard test procedures, and the enumeration of mathematical formulas. Instead it concentrates on describing the properties of structural plastics and how these properties evolve through the judicious joining of suitable building blocks. While great importance is placed on giving an understanding of the chemical nature of atoms and bonds--since these determine the macroscopic properties of any material--mathematical relationships are avoided. The reader will thus find explanations of all necessary chemical information insofar as it directly pertains to problems faced by plastics processors and users. Because it generally downplays the complexities inherent in polymer chemistry, the book is ideally suited for plastics parts designers and manufacturers who may not require the technical descriptions often found in other texts. Knowledge of chemistry is not a prerequisite since the first chapters familiarize the reader with all the elements and reactive groups contained in plastics. After this introduction, the author goes on to explain how the different elements and chemical groups contribute and relate to the multifold properties of structural plastics. Those properties which limit the applicability of plastics are covered in detail. In addition, the various processing methods for structural plastics are classified by group. Isometric and stereoscopic illustrations aid the text.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195209583
• ISBN13: 9780195209587
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 0.8" x 6.8"