Fundamentals of Plastics Testing

Registration

Course Number: 00.648-002

Tuition: TBD

TBD
00.648-002
Professor Stephen Burke Driscoll
8:30am-5:00pm

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Overview

This program provides an overview of the significance of testing plastics materials, including selecting the appropriate protocol, specimen preparation, sampling and conditioning, and data generation and interpretation. Attention will be focused on the concept of "uncertainty budget," and will investigate primary and secondary sources of error for several principal physical properties. Class lecture and hands-on training will be used, as well as selected laboratory demonstrations.

Audience

This seminar is designed for laboratory personnel who want to develop an enhanced appreciation for plastics materials testing methodology.

Content

Review of Appropriate ASTM, ISO and other international standards-developing organizations

Review of ASTM D4000 Class Protocol for preparation, sampling, conditioning, data generation and interpretation

Typical Mechanical Properties

Tensile
Flexural and stiffness
Hardness
Impact toughness (pendulum, falling weight)
Creep behavior

Key Thermal Properties

Distortion Temperature Under Load (DTUL)
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)
Flammability and smoke generation/density
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE)

Molecular Weight Determinations

Steady shear of polymer solutions (spindle rheometry)
Steady shear of polymer melts (capillary, torque rheometry)
Dynamic Mechanical Rheological Testing (DMRT) of polymer melt viscosity, solid (functional) behavior and time-temperature superpositioning