Chapter 8/13/14 Plastics

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to plastic materials and processing as discussed in the lecture.

Polymer

Plastics and rubbers that make up a group of engineering materials of increasing importance in industrial applications.

Thermoplastics

Polymers that are solid at room temperature and can be repeatedly heated and cooled without significant degradation.

Thermosetting polymers

Polymers that soften when heated but harden into an infusible solid upon cooling and cannot withstand repeat heating.

Elastomers

Rubbers characterized by extreme elastic extensibility.

Plasticizers

Small molecules that improve the flowability of the material in the mold by surrounding polymer macromolecules.

Mixing

The process of combining raw materials and granulated resins to ensure uniformity and quality.

Compression Molding

Processing method where powder or granular material is heated in a mold under pressure to take its shape.

Injection Molding

A process where granular thermoplastic material is converted to liquid and injected into a mold to solidify.

Extrusion

Process for thermoplastics where material is forced through a die and shaped into tubes, rods, or molded sections.

Blow Molding

Process used to create thin-wall hollow containers by expanding a heated plastic tube in a mold.

Reinforced Plastics

Materials made from thermosetting resins mixed with fibers such as glass or cotton to enhance strength.

Fillers

Materials added to plastic compounds to reduce costs, improve heat resistance, and enhance properties like impact strength.

Colorants

Dyes and pigments used to color plastics, dissolving or mixing within the plastic material.

Viscoelastic properties

Properties of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when deformed.

Heat resistance

The ability of a material to withstand high temperatures without degrading.