Designing with Plastics and Composites: A Handbook, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1991

For some time there has been a strong need in the plastic and related industries for a detailed, practical book on designing with plastics and composites (reinforced plastics). This one-source book meets this criterion by clearly explaining all aspects of designing with plastics, as can be seen from the Table of Contents and Index. It provides information on what is ahead as well as today's technology. It explains how to interrelate the process of meeting design performance requirements with that of selecting the proper plastic and manufacturing process to make a product at the lowest cost. This book has been prepared with an awareness that its usefulness will depend greatly upon its simplicity. The overall guiding premise has therefore been to provide all essential information. Each chapter is organized to best present a methodology for designing with plastics and composites. of industrial designers, whether in engineering This book will prove useful to all types or involved in products, molds, dies or equipment, and to people in new-product ventures, research and development, marketing, purchasing, and management who are involved with such different products as appliances, the building industry, autos, boats, electronics, furniture, medical, recreation, space vehicles, and others. In this handbook the basic essentials of the properties and processing behaviors of plastics are presented in a single source intended to be one the user will want to keep within easy reach.

1. Fundamentals of Designing with Plastics and Composites.- 2. The Structure and Basic Properties of Plastics.- 3. Plastics: Design Criteria.- 4. Environmental Conditions Affecting Plastics.- 5. Structural Design Analysis.- 6. The Properties of Plastics.- 7. The Processing of Plastics.- 8. Auxiliary Equipment and Secondary Operations.- 9. Testing and Quality Control.- 10. Computer-Aided Design.- 11. Design Features That Influence Performance.- 12. Conclusions.- Appendix A. General Information Sources.- Appendix B. Conversions.- Appendix C. Trade Names.- Appendix D. Computerized Software and Databases.- References.