Plastics processing

Article By:

Turng, Lih-Sheng Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.

Goodman, Sidney H. Materials Products Department, Technology Support Division, Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City, California; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Last reviewed:April 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.526800

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• Plastics processing, published June 2014:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

The techniques used to convert plastics materials in the form of pellets, granules, powders, sheets, fluids, or preforms into formed shapes or parts. Although the term plastics has been used loosely as a synonym for polymers and resins, plastics generally represent polymeric compounds that are formulated with plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, and other additives for purposes of processability and performance. After forming, the part may be subjected to a variety of ancillary operations such as welding, adhesive bonding, machining, or surface decorating (painting, metallizing).

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