Materials
Melt Flow Rate Testing—Part 4
Few molders perform the test in-house. Of those that do, most don't understand why they are doing it or what they are measuring.
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Natural Gas Boom: What Will It Mean for Plastics Processors?
Plentiful shale gas promises to keep domestic polyolefin production costs among the lowest in the world. Whether (and when) you will see savings is debatable.
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Prices Flat or Slightly Lower
Prices of PE, PP, PS, and PVC remained steady through last month, although price initiatives were on the table for all but PP.
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Melt Flow Rate Testing—Part 3
There is a well-established relationship between something called the weight-average molecular weight of a polymer and a parameter known as the zero-shear viscosity.
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News in Medical Tubing & Materials
Two innovations in medical tubing and more than a dozen new materials, coatings, and adhesives were on display at June’s Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East show in Philadelphia.
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PP Prices Up, Others Flat or Down
Polypropylene prices have moved up two months in a row and there is potential for further increases, all owing to propylene monomer tightness. PS prices moved lower in July, while attempts to hike prices of PE and PVC appeared to have failed.
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K 2013 Preview: Materials & Additives
The K 2013 show will present a broad range of engineered plastics materials, including thermoplastic composites, as well as additives. Automotive and electronic applications will be the main targets, as well as medical, packaging, lighting, and construction.
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Melt Flow Rate Testing – Part 2
To fully appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the melt-flow-rate (MFR) test it is important to know something about the way the test is performed.
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PE Prices Firming, Others Flat or Lower
Flat to lower prices are projected for PP, PS, and PVC due to lower feedstock prices and better-balanced supply/demand.
Read MoreIneos to Buy Mitsui’s Polyacrylonitrile Business
The leader in acrylonitrile copolymers buys another PAN business.
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