The broad collection of techniques gathered in this book help illustrate material/process/property relationships for a wide selection of materials and processes in the plastics industry. With the recent increases in computing power and scope, as well as advances in software engineering, imaging has already become a universal tool. Image processing and image analysis have become common expressions are widely recognized within the scientific community.
The imaging techniques employed range from visible optical methods to scanning and transmission electron microscopy, x-ray, thermal wave infrared and atomic force microscopy. Image analysis is used to monitor/ characterize a variety of processes.
Processes included within this book are: extrusion, injection molding, foam production, film manufacture, compression molding, blow molding, vulcanization, melt spinning, reactive blending, welding, conveying, composite manufacture, compounding, and thermosetting.
Imaging techniques are also employed to characterize/quantify a number of important material properties. These include: fiber orientation distribution, homogeneity of mixing, the rate of spherulites growth, polymer crystallization rate, melt flow index, pore size and shape in foam, cell density in foam, void content, particle analysis in polymer blends, morphology, interparticle distance, fiber diameter, fatigue crack, crazing, scratching, surface roughness, fiber-length distribution, nucleation, oil penetration, peel adhesion, chemical resistance, droplet-fiber transition, electrical conductivity, dispersion and impurity content.

Behnam Pourdeyhimi is a Professor at North Carolina State University, USA

PrefaceThe Optimized Performance of Linear Vibration Welded Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 Butt JointsImage Analysis of Polypropylene Melt Fiber StretchingThe Effect of Fiber Orientation on Distribution on the Tooth Stiffness of a Polymer Composite GearNovel Processing and Performance of Aligned Discontinuous Fiber Polymer CompositesCharacterization of Kneading Block Performance on Co-Rotating Twin Screw ExtrudersA Quantitative Description of the Effects of Molecular Weight and Atactic Level on the Spherulite Growth Rate of Ziegler-Natta Isotactic PolypropyleneMiscibility and Co-Continuous Morphology of Polypropylene-Polyethylene BlendsFlow Visualization for Extensional Viscosity AssessmentPP/LLDPE/EDPM Blends: Effect of Elastomer Viscosity on ImpactMixing of a Low Molecular Weight Additive in a Co-Rotating TSE: Morphological Analysis of a HDPE/PDMS SystemsThe in situ Compatibilization of HDPE/PET BlendsEvaluation of Process Aids for Controlling Surface Roughness of Extruded LLDPEEvaluation of Scratch and Mar Resistance in Automotive Coatings: Nanoscratching by Atomic Force MicroscopeStudy of the Morphology and Tensile Mechanical Properties of Biaxially Oriented PET/PP BlendsImproved Barrier and Mechanical Properties of Laminar Polymer BlendsRelative Magnetic Permeability of Injection Molded Composites as Affected by the Flow Induced Orientation of Ferromagnetic ParticlesProcessing-Structure-Property Relations in PS/PE Blends: Compression versus Injection MoldingPolyetherimide Epoxy-Based Prepreg Systems with Variable Temperature Cure CapabilityCO 2 Blown PETG FoamsTear Strength Enhancement Mechanisms in TPO FilmsMorphological Study of Fatigue Induced Damage in Semicrystalline PolymersThe Effect of Several Kinds of Oils on the Oil Resistance Behavior of Polystyrenic Thermoplastic VulcanizateVisualization of Polymer Melt Convergent Flows in ExtrusionEvaluation of the Constrained Blister Test for Measurement of an Intrinsic AdhesionFractal Analysis and Radiographic Inspection of Microwave Welded HDPE BarsApplication of Thermography for the Optimization of the Blow Molding ProcessThe Use of Video and the Development of Solids Conveying TheoryMicrocellular PET Foams Produced by the Solid State ProcessThermal Wave Imaging of Propagating Cracks in Polypropylene and a Thermoplastic OlefinThe Division of Agglomerates in Molten Environment of Polymers: A Physical Model for Mathematical DescriptionA New On-Line Technique for Morphology Analysis and Residence Time Measurement in a Twin-Screw ExtruderControlled Order Thermosets for Electronic PackagingFatigue Fracture in Polypropylene with Different Spherulitic SizesBrittle-Ductile Transition of PP/Rubber/Filler HybridsIndex