Chemical Reactions in Plastics Processing

Transforming plastics granules or powder into a finished product requires more than a plastics processor and a machine. In most cases there are chemical reactions involved which strongly influence economics as well as product quality. This book provides plastics processors with critical information on basic chemical reactions and how they can be influenced. Kircher surveys various chemical reactions, including polymerization and polycondensation of monomers and prepolymers during molding, as well as crosslinking of polymers and chemical degradation during processing. He explains in detail which reactions are part of the process and which should be avoided. An excellent reference for all plastics engineers working in the processing industry, this book is designed to be accessible to chemists as well as non-chemists.