Solid-State Shear Pulverization: Chilled Extrusion Technique for Value-Added Plastics Processing and Polymer-Based Materials Development discusses solid-state shear pulverization (SSSP) and solid-state/melt extrusion (SSME), both unconventional polymer processing methods that are based on twin screw extrusion. The technology was originally employed to produce reduced particle size of polymeric materials, but recently has been successfully applied to mechanochemically modify plastics, fabricate polymer blends and nanocomposites on a commercially-scalable level.

Katsuyuki (Kat) Wakabayashi received his B.S.E. in both Chemical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering from University of Pennsylvania in 2000, and completed his Ph.D. in Chemical & Materials Engineering at Princeton University in 2006. After a Post-Doctoral position at Northwestern University, Kat joined the faculty of Chemical Engineering at Bucknell University in 2007. His past research experience spans different types of plastic materials, from ionomers to blends and nanocomposites, which are encompassed in his current line of research with solid-state processing. Having spent parts of his life in USA, Japan, and Europe (including a Visiting Professorship at Katholieke Universitait Leuven, Belgium), Kat brings a global perspective to the plastics R&D community. While Kat has co-authored numerous journal articles and patents in the field, his passion remains for working with students and collaborating with industry to tackle real-world problems. (Website at http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kw025/)

SECTION I: The Elements of the Solid-State Pulverization Technology: A Practical Guide
1. Introduction: Why should one use solid-state processing?
2. The Past, Present, and the Future: What is SSSP and SSME capable of?
3. Competing Solid-State Processes: What makes SSSP real SSSP?
4. Instrumentation: What are the Key Components and Roles?
5. Methodology: How Does it Work? What Materials Work?
6. Processing Parameters: What Knobs are There to Turn? What are Read Out?
SECTION II: The Current Art of the Solid-State Pulverization Technology: A Comprehensive Review
7. Powder Production
8. Plastic Modifications
9. Blend Compatiblization
10. Macrocomposites
11. Nanocomposites (e.g. Polymers with Graphite, Carbon Nanotubes, Clay)