Thermal Properties

THERMAL PROPERTIES:
o Melt flow index (MFI)
o Heat deflection temperature (HDT)
o Vicat softening temperature (VSP) Vicat softening temperature (VSP)
o Flammability
o Thermal conductivity
o Low temperature Brittleness
o Oxygen Index

Melt Flow Index (MFI)
Test Method: ASTM D 1238, ISO-1133, JIS-K 7210, BS-2782 Method 105 C
Sample size: Minimum 50 gm of granules
Definition: The quality of material extruded through a standard orifice under specified temperature and load, measured for 10 minutes.
Where,                M
               MFI = ------ x 600 
                             t
M = Mass of the extrudate (gm)
t = Cut off time (sec.)
Significance
1. To measure the uniformity of the flow rate of the material To measure the uniformity of the flow rate of the material.
2. This values help to distinguish between the different grades of a polymer.
3. MFI is indirectly proportional to Molecular Weight.
Factors Affecting MFI
Preheat time Preheat time Non uniformity in temperature along the wall of the cylinder if it
is not preheated for a specific length of time. This cause the flow rate to very considerably
Moosue Moosue isture in the material causes bubbles too appear appea in thee extrudate. The weight of the extrudate is influenced by the voids..
Packing Improper packing of material causes variation in the test results.
Volume of sample Any change in volume of the sample in the cylinder may cause for variation in the test result.

Taber Abrasion Resistance

Taber Abrasion Resistance
1. This test measures the quantity of abrasion loss by abrading a test specimen with a Taber machine. As per the standard ISO 3537, DIN 52347 and ASTM D1044
2. The specimen is mounted on a rotating disc, turning with a speed of 60 r.p.m. Loads, by 
means of weights, are applied.
3. pushing the abrasive wheels onto the specimen. After a specified number of cycles, the test is stopped.
4. The mass of abrasion loss is defined as the mass of test piece fragments which have 
dropped off: reported in mg/1000 cycles.

Shear Strength

Shear Strength:
1. Shear strength of plastic material is defined as the ability to withstand the maximum load required to shear the specimen so that the moving portion completely clears the stationary portion. Forcing a standardized punch at a specified rate through a sheet of plastics until the two portions of the specimen
completely separate carries out shear strength test.
2. Shear strength data is of great importance to a designer of film and sheet products that tends to be subjected to shear loads. Most large molded and extruded products are usually not subjected to shear loads.
SHEAR STRENGTH: The maximum load required to shear a specimen in such a manner that the resulting pieces are completely clear of each other.
Unit is lb / inch².
TEST METHOD
Test Method for shear strength of plastics by punch tool (ASTM D 732).

Shear strength is calculated as follows:

                                          Force required to shear the specimen
Shear strenggth (psi) = -----------------------------------------------------------
                                         Area of sheared edge

Area of sheared edge = (circumference of punch) x (thickness of specimen)
Calculate shear strength in MPa determined by dividing the load required to shear shear the specimen by the area of the sheared edge, which shall be taken as the product of the thickness of the specimen by the circumference of the punch.
A shear tool of the punch type, which is so, constructed that the specimen is rigidly clamped both to the stationary block and movable block so that it cannot be deflected during the test. 

Hardness Test

Hardness Test:
1. Hardness is defined as the resistance of a material to deformation, particularly permanent.
deformation by indentation or scratching.
2. Two most commonly used hardness tests for plastics are the Rockwell hardness test and
the Durometer hardness test.
3. Rockwell ASTM D 785, ISO-2039, JIS-K7202, DIN-53426 hardness for relatively hard
plastics such as acetals, nylons, acrylics and polystyrenes.
4. Durometer ASTM D 2240, ISO-868, JIS-K 7215, BS2782 Method 307 A and DIN 53505
hardness for flexible PVC rubbers, polyethylene & polyurethane.
Comparison of Ball, Rockwell and Shore hardness
1. The Rockwell hardness test determines the hardness of plastics after allowing for elastic recovery of the test specimen.
2. This is different from both Ball and Shore hardness: in these tests, hardness is derived from the depth of penetration under load - thus excluding any elastic recovery of the material.
3. Rockwell values CANNOT, therefore, be directly related to Ball or Shore values.
4. Ranges for Shore A and D values can be compared to ranges for Ball indentation hardness values. A linear correlation, however, does not exist.

Compressive Properties

Compressive Properties:
1. Compressive properties describe the behaviour of a material when it is subjected to a compressive load at a relatively low and uniform rate of loading.
2. Compressive properties include modulus of elasticity; yield stress, deformation beyond yield point, compressive strength, compressive strain and slenderness ratio. Material processing a low order of ductility may not exhibit yield point.
3. Compressive strength is a value that shows how much force is needed to rupture or crush
a material.
4. Compression tests provide a standard method of obtaining data for research and
development, quality control, acceptance or rejection under specifications and special purposes
5. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH The maximum load sustained by a test specimen in a compressiive test divide by the oriiginal cross section area of the specimen.

Compressive Properties:
COMPRESSIVE DEFORMATION: - The decrease in length produced in the gauge length of
the test specimen by a compressive load. It is expressed in unit of length.
COMPRESSIVE STRAIN: - The ratio of compressive deformation to the gauge length of the test specimen, i.e., the change in length per unit of original length along the longitudinal axis. It is expressed as dimension ratio.
SLENDERNESS RATIO:- The ratio of the length of a column of uniform cross section to its
least radius of gyration known as slenderness ratio.
MODULUS MODULUS OF OF ELASTICITY ELASTICITY:- The ratio of stress to corresponding strain below the proportional limit of a material. It is expressed as force per unit area, based on the average initial cross- sectional area.
COMPRESSIVE YIELD POINT:- The fist point of stress-strain diagram at which an increase in 
strain occurs without an increase in stress.
Unit:- Kg/Cm2
Test Method: ASTM D 695, ISO-R-604, BS-2782 Method 303, DIN-5345

FORMULA E AND CALCULATION:
Compressive strength: Calculate the compressive strength by dividing the max. Compressive load carried by the specimen during the test by the original minimum carried by the specimen during the test by the original minimum cross sectional area of the specimens cross sectional area of the specimens.  Express the result in MPa. 
                                                           Load (kg)
(1) Compressive strength = ----------------------------------------------------
                                            Original cross sectional area (cm2)

                                                     Maximum load recorded (N)
(2) Compressive strength at yield (N/mm²) = ---------------------
                                                         Cross-section area (mm²)

                                                      Load recorded at break (N)
(3) Compressive strength at (N/mm²) = -------------------------------
                                                     Cross-section area (mm²)

                                                      Difference in stress
(4) Compressive Modulus = --------------------------------------------------
                                        Difference in corresponding strain

                                                  Change in length (Deformation)
(5) Deformation at yield, Strain (ε) = ---------------------------------
                                                   Original length (gauge length)

(6) Percent Deformation = ε x 100

If the specimen gives a yield load that is larger than the load at break, calculate “percent Deformation at yield” otherwise; calculate “percent Deformation at break”.

Factors Affecting Compressive Strength:
Rate of Straining A rate of straining in a test specimen drastically change the compressive strength.
Effect of Plasticizer Soften the material, brings down the compreesive strength and
increase Elongation.
Crystallinity With the increase of crystallinity, compressive strength increases.
Temperature and Humidity Recommended Temperature and Humidity is 23℃ and 55-65%. Flexural Strength decreases as Temperature increases. Moisture works as plasticizer, so it causes then increase in impact.
Method of specimen Injection moulded specimens will have higher value than the
Preparation compressiion speciimen. Molecular Orientation has a significant effect
on compressive strength values. A load applied parallel to the direction of molecular orientation may yield higher value than the load applied perpendicular to the orientation.
Molecular Weight and Molecular Weight Distribution With increase in molecular weight, compressive strength also increases. Smaller molecules in polymer work as plasticizer. So with increase of Molecular Weight Distribution, compressive strength increase.

Flexural Strength

Flexural Strength:
1. Flexural strength is the measure of how well a material resists bending, or ‘what is the stiffness of the material’.
2. Unlike tensile loading, in flexural testing all force is applied in one direction. 
3. The stress induced due to flexural load are a combination of compressive and tensile stresses.
4. Useful in selection of suitable plastic material for designing a part required for structural application for structural application.
Two test methods are describes are as follows:
(i) Test method 1: A three point leading system utilizing central leading on a simply Supported beam.
(ii) Test method 2: A four point leading system utilizing two load equally spaced from their adjacent supportt point with a distance between load points of either 1/3 or 1/2 of the support span.
The stress induced due to flexural load are a combination of compressive and tensile stress.
Test Method: ASTM D 790, ISO-R-178, DIN-53452, BS-2782 Method 302 D, JIS-K 7203
Flexural Strength: Flexural strength is the ability of the material to withstand bending
forces applied perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The stresses induced due to the flexural load are a combination of compressive and tensile stresses.
Flexural Modulus: Within the elastic limit, the ratio of the applied stress on a test specimen in flexure to the corresponding strain in the outermost fiber of the specimen. Flexural modulus is the measure of relative stiffness.
Unit- Kg/Cm2.
FORMULA AND CALCULATION:
1) Calculate the rate of cross-head motion as follows and set the machine for the calculated rate, or as near as possible to it,
                                   R=Zl2 / 6d
Where,
R = rate of cross-head motion (mm/min)
l = support span (mm)
d = depth of beam (mm)
Z = rate of straining of entire fiber (mm/min)

2) Terminate the test in the maximum strain in the outer fiber has reached 0.05 mm/min. The 
deflection at which distortion occurs are calculated by ‘r’ equal to 0.05 mm/min as follows:
                                   D= rl2 / 6d
Where,
D = midspan deflection (mm)
r = strain (mm/mm) strain (mm/mm)
l = support span
d = depth of beam (mm)

3) Max.fiber stress- test method ‘1’
                                  S = 3PL / 2 bd2
Where,
S = stress in the outer fiber at midspan (Mpa)
p = load at given point on the load deflection curve(v)
L= support beam (mm)
b= width of beam tested (mm)
d = depth of beam tested in (mm)

4) Maximum fiber stress for beam tested at large support spans-test method ‘1’,
     S = (3PL / 2 bd2 ) 1+ 6(D/L)2 S = (3PL / 2 bd ) 1+ 6(D/L) –– 4(d/l) (D/L) 4(d/l) (D/L)

5) Max.fiber stress-test method ‘2’
                               S = PL / bd2
For a load span of½ f f ½ of the support span
S = 3PL / 4 bd2

6) Maximum fiber stress test method ‘2’ for beam tested at large support span:-
     S = (PL / bd2 ) 1 + (4.70 D2 / L2 – (7.04 Dd / L2 S (PL / bd ) 1 (4.70 D / L (7.04 Dd / L )])]
For a span of one-half of the support
Span: S = (3PL / 4bd2 ) * [ 1- (10.91 Dd / L2 ) ]

Factors Affecting Flexural Results:
Temperature and Humidity: Recommended Temperature and Humidity is 23℃ and 55 –65 %. Flexural Strength decreases as Temperature increases Moisturey Flexural Strength decreases as Temperature increases. Moisture works as plasticizer, so it causes then decrease in flexural Strength and increase the Elongation.
Strain rate: A strain rate increased the tensile strength increased.
Method of specimen Preparation: Injection moulded specimens will have higher value than the compression specimen. Molecular Orientation has a significant effect on flexural Strength values. A load-applied parallel to the direction of molecular orientation may yield higher value than the load applied perpendicular to the orientation.
Specimen: The flexural strength increases as the specimen thickness is increased.
Test Conditions: The strain rate, which depends upon testing speed; specimen thickness and distance between supports (span) can affect the results. At a given span, Flexural Strength increases as the specimen
thickness is increased. Modulus of a material
generally increases with increasing strain rate.

Impact Properties

Impact Properties:
1. Tensile and flexural testing, the material absorbs energy slowly. materials often absorb applied forces very quickly: falling objects, blows, collisions, drops etc. The purpose of impact testing is to simulate these conditions.
2. The impact properties of the polymeric materials are directly related to the Overall toughness of the material.
3. Toughness is defined as the ability of the polymer to absorb applied energy.
4. The area under the stress-strain curve is directly proportional to the toughness of a material.
5. The impact resistance is the ability of a material to resist breaking under a shock loading.

There are basicallyy four types of failures encountered due to impact load.
Brittle Fracture -The product fractures extensively without yielding
Slight Cracking -The product shows evidence of slight cracking and yielding without losing its shape.
Yielding -The product yields showing formation and stress whitening.
Ductile Failure -A definite yielding of material along with cracking.

TEST METHOD
Test Method for Impact Resistance of Plastics & Electrical Insulating Material
(ASTM D 256 A & B), ASTMD1822, JISK-7111 &7112
The impact test methods are as following:
(11) Pendulum impact tests
(i) Izod impact test
(ii) Charpy impact test
(iii) Chip impact test
(iv) Tensile impact test
(2) High-rate tension test
(3) Falling weight impact test
(a) (a) Drop weight (top) impact test
(4) Instrumented impact tests
(5) High- rate impact testers.
(a) High speed ball impact tester
(b) (b) High speed pllunger impact tester
(6) Miscellaneous impect test.

ASTM D 256, ISO‐R‐180, BS‐2782
Method 306 A, DIN 53453, JIS‐K 7110
IMPACT TEST: Impact test is a method of determining the behavior of material subjected to shock loadingg in bending or tension. The quantity usuallyy measured is the energy absorbed in fracturing in a single blow.
IMPACT STRENGTH: Energy required fracturing a specimen subjected to shock loading.
Unit : J/m

SIGNIFICANCE
(11) The excess energy pendulum impact test indicates the energy to break std. Test specimen of specified size under stipulated conditions of specimen mounting, notching and pendulum velocity at impact.
(22) The energy lost by the pendulum during the breakage of the specimen is the sum of
energy required,
(i) To initiate fracture of the specimen.
(ii) To propagate the fracture across the specimen.
(iii) To through the free end of the broken specimen.
(iv) To bend the specimen.
(v) To produced vibration in the pendulum arm
(vi) To produced vibration ‘or’ horizontal movement of the machine frame ‘or’ base.
(vii) To overcome friction in the pendulum bearing and in the excess energy indicating mechanism and to overcome pendulum air drag (wind age).
(viii) To indent ‘or’ deformed plastically the specimen at the line.
1. Impact properties can be very sensitive to test specimen thickness and molecular orientation. The differences in specimen thickness as used in ASTM and ISO methods methods may may affect affect impact impact values values strongly strongly.
2. A change from 3 to 4 mm thickness can even provide a transition in the failure mode from ductile to brittle behaviour ‐ through the influence of molecular weight and specimen thickness on Izod notched impact.
3. Materials already showinga brittle fracture mode in 3 mm thickness – such as mineral and glass filled grades ‐ will not be affected. Neither will impact modified materials.
CHARPY IMPACT STRENGTH
Test Test Method Method:: ASTM ASTM DD 6110 6110, ISO ISO-RR-179 179, BSBS-2782 2782
Method 306 B & 307
Charpy impact is less common in US but is widely used in Europe. The test is identical to Izod test except that the specimen is a simply supported beam that is impacted, midlong between the supports.
Specimen Size: 12.7 x 6.4 x 127.0 mm
The main difference between Charpy and Izod tests is the way the test bar is held. In Charpy testing the specimen is not clamped, but lies freely on the support in a horizontal position.
FORMULA AND CALCULATIONS
                                   Energy required breaking the sample (J)
Impact strength (J/m) (Izod / Charpy)= ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
                                              Thickness (m)

Dart Impact Test=
                     Calculate Wf = WL ‐ [ ΔW (S/100 – ½)]
Where,
Wf = impact failure weight, gms,
ΔW = uniform weight increment used, gms,
ΔW used L = lowest missile weight, gms, according to the particular ΔW used, at which 100% failure occurred and
S = sum of the percentages of breaks at each missile weight (from a weight corresponding to no failures upto and including WL )

Factors Affecting Impact Results:
Rate of loading: At low rates high impact strength vice versa.
Notch Sensitivity: A notch in a test specimen drastically lowers the impact strength. Radius of notch and angle of notch.
Temperature: Higher the temperature more impact strength.
Orientation: The impact strength is highe
r in the direction of flow.
Temperature and Humidity: Recommended Temperature and Humidity is 23℃ and 55 –65%. Flexural Strength decreases as Temperature increases. Moisture workks as plasticizer, so it causes then increase in impact.
Method of specimen Preparation: Injection moulded specimens will have higher value than the specimen compression specimen. Molecular Orientation has a significant effect on impact strength values. A load-applied parallel to the direction of molecular orientation may yield higher value than the load applied perpendicular to the orientation.

Impact Properties
Falling-Weight Impact Test
1. The fallingg impact test, also known as the drop impact test or the variable-height impact test, employs a falling weight.
2. This falling weight is a tip with a conical nose, a ball, or a ball-end dart.
3. The energy required to fail the specimen is measured by dropping a known weight from a
known height onto a test specimen.
4. This test is also very suitable for determining the impact resistance of plastic films, sheets and laminated materials.

Three basic ASTM tests are commonly used depending upon the application:
ASTMD 3029 - Impact resistance of rigid plastics sheeting
ASTMD 1709 - Impact resistance of poly ethylene film by the free falling dart method
ASTMD 244 - Test for impact resistance of thermoplastics pipe and fittings by means of a tip.

Impact Properties
DROP IMPACT TEST
1. The test is carried out by raising the weight to a desired height manually or automatically with the use of motor-driven mechanism & allowing it to fall freely on to the others side of the round- nosed punch.
2. The punch transfers the impact energy to the flat test specimen, which is positioned, on a cylindrical die or a part lying on the base of the machine.
3. The kinetic energy is possessed by the falling weight at the instant of impact is equal to the energy used tto raise to the height of drop and is the potential energy possessed by the weight as it is released.
4. Since the potential energy is expressed as the product of weight and height, the guide tube is marked with a linear scale representing the impact range of the instrument in in-lb.
5. Thus, the toughness or the impact strength of a specimen or a part is read directly off the calibrated scale in in-lb.
6. The energy loss due to the friction in the tube or due to the momentary acceleration of the punch is negligible.

Tensile Strength

Mechanical Properties:
Fundamental to the understanding of a material’s performance  is a knowledge of how the material will respond to any load.
The important mechanical properties are
1. Tensile tests
2. Flexural properties
3. Compressive properties
4. Creep properties
5. Stress relaxation
6. Impact properties
7. Shear strength
8. Abrasion
9. Hardness tests

Tensile Strength:
Stress: The force applied to produce deformation in a unit area of test specimen.
Strain: The change in length per unit of the original length.
Elongation: The increase in the length of test specimen produced by a tensile load.
Yield Point: The first point on the the stress strain curve at which an increase in strain
occurs without the increase in stress.
Yield Strength: The stress at which a material exhibits a specified limiting deviation
from the proportionality of stress to strain
Proportional limit: The greatest stress at which a material is capable of sustaining the applied load without any deviation from proportionality of stress to strain (Hooke’s Law)
Modulus of Elasticity: Modulus of Elasticity The ratio of stress to corresponding strain below the proportional limit of a material.
Ultimate Strength: The maximum unit stress a material will withstand when subjected to
an applied load in compression, tension or shear.
Secant Modulus: The ratio of the total stress to corresponding strain at any specific point on the stress-strain curve.
Tensile Strength
Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics (ASTM D 638), IS-8453, JIS-7113, ISO-1184, BS-2782.
By knowing the amount of deformation (strain) introduced by a given load (stress), the designer can predict the response of the application under its working condition.

Tensile strength: The maximum Tensile stress ( nominal) sustained by a test piece piece during during aa tension tension test test or or Ultimate Ultimate strength strength of of aa material material subjected to tensile loading otherwise, it is a measurement of the ability of a material to withstand forces that to pull it apart and to determine to what extent the material stretches before breaking.
Tensile Modulus: The ratio of tensile stress to corresponding strain at the maximum load. It is an indication of the relative stiffness of a material.
Percentage of Elongation at Yield: The percentage elongation produced in the gauge length of the test piece at the yield tensile stress.
Percentage of Elongation at Yield: The elongation at break, or at maximum load, produced in the gauge length of the test piece, expressed as a percentage of the gauge length.

Formula and Calculations
                                                    Force (load) (N)
(1) Tensile strength = ---------------------------------------------------------
                             Cross-section area of the specimen(mm²)

                                                     Maximum load recorded (N)
(2) Tensile strength at yield (N/mm²) = ----------------------------------
                           Cross Cross section section area area (mm )²

                                                      Load recorded at break (N)
(3) Tensile strength at break (N/mm²) = ---------------------------------
                                                       Cross section area (mm²)

                                           Difference in stress
(4) Tensile Modulus = ---------------------------------------------------
                                           Difference in corresponding strain

                                                   Change in length (elongation)
(5) Elongation at yield, Strain (ε) = ----------------------------------------
                                                   Original length (gauge length)

(6) P t Percent El ti Elongation = ε x 100

NOTE: If the specimen gives a yield load that is larger than the load at break, calculate 
“percent elongation at yield” otherwise; calculate “percent elongation at break”.

Factors Affecting Tensile Results:
Temperature and Humidity: Recommended Temperature and Humidity is 23℃ and 55 –65 %. Tensile Strength decreases as Temperature increases. Moisture works as, so it causes then decrease in Tensile Strength and
increase the Elongation.
Strain rate: As the strain rate increased the tensile strength increased
Method of specimen Preparation: Injection moulded specimens will have higher value than the compression specimen. Molecular Orientation has a significant effect on tensile Strength values. A load-applied parallel to the direction of molecular orientation may yield higher value than the load applied perpendicular to the orientation. The opposite is true for elongation.
Effect of Plasticizer and filler: Soften the material, brings down the Tensile Strength and increase Elongation.
Crystallinit: With the iincrease of Crystallinity, Tensile Strength increases.
Test Speed: Elongation is high when Test Speed is minimum i.e. 0.05 mm/min and
is lower when Test Speed is maximum i.e. 500 mm/min.
Molecular Weight and Molecular 
Weight Distribution: With increase in molecular weight Tensile Strength also increases and Molecular Weight Distribution With increase in molecular weight, Tensile Strength also increases. Smaller molecules in polymer work as plasticizer. So with increase of Molecular Weight Distribution, Elongation decrease and Tensile Strength.

Testing and Quality Control

Testing and Quality Control: With the advent of Science and Technology, the concept of testing is an integral part of research and development, product design and manufacturing.
Why we need testing?
• To prove design concepts 
• To prove a basis for reliability 
• Safety
• Protection against product liability suits 
• Quality Control 
• To meet Standards and Specifications To meet Standards and Specifications
• To verify the manufacturing process 
• To evaluate competitors products 
• To establish a history for new materials
Fundamental Aspects of Testing:
Test Method
AA definitive definitive procedure procedure for for the the identification identification, measurement measurement and and evaluation evaluation of one or more qualities, characteristics or properties of a material, product, system or service that produces a test result.
Test Data Helps
• To determine the suitability of plastics for a particular application, for quality control purposes or to obtain a better understanding of there behavior under various conditions
• The physical property data obtained by testing is required to design the product development and failure analysis.
• The testing data are required for to promote the use of plastics.
• Testing feed back helps to aid improved design or quality control procedures.
Quality Control Test:
Quality control datas are useful for finding suitability of a material design, and product quality. It carries out the actual test, make use of test planning and test data processing. The data processing helps In checking reproducibility and accuracy of the test result.
Standard Method of Test:
Standard methods of tests are required for evaluation 
• Basic plastics molecule from laboratory level to the resin & the Product.
• It helps product reliability.
• Liability registration
REASONS FOR TESTING
1. To ensure
• Incoming raw material are acceptable and consistent quality.
• Product of intermediate stages of manufacture are of an acceptable and consistent quality.
• End product of the overallll process is of  consitent and acceptable quality.
2. To evaluate 
• New or competitive materials or modifications to a process.
• The fitness for purpose of a material, process or product. 
3. To obtain
• Early evidence of changes taking place in a process.
4. To prove
• Design aspects. 
• Quality control and Safety 
Types of Tests:
The following are the major types of test:‐
1. Analytical Test.
2. Material Characterization Test.
3. Material property test.
4. Product test.
Analytical tests are important for :
Quality control 
Development of new materials.
Product designing.
Process Optimization.
Major analytical tests are :
Density and specific gravity test.
Water absorption test.
Moisture analysis.
Sieve Analysis Sieve Analysis.
Material Characterization Test
Material characterization tests are used for:
• To identify the material 
• To determine chemical composition To determine chemical composition
• To determine Structure 
• To determine Flow Behavior
Major Characterization Tests are:
• Melt Flow Test
• Viscosity Test Viscosity Test
• Molecular Weight and Molecular Wt Distribution
• Thermal Properties (TGA, DSC, TMA)
• Spectroscopy
• Microscopy
1. The property datas of the material are the major resource for selection of material,, pprocess opptimization and product and
mould design.
2. The various properties of plastics materials are determined by
standard standard test test methods methods, such such asas ASTM ASTM, ISOISO etc etc.,
• The most common material property tests are:
• Mechanical properties.
• Thermal Properties.
• Electrical Properties.
• Optical Properties.
• Weathering Properties
• Chemical Properties
3. Testing of plastics product is important for predicting product performance.
4. This test can be carried out from test specimen prepared
by machining the products or the whole product.
5. Non Destructive Test
• Preferable where the product is very expensive and which
cannot be destruct.
• Ultrasonic Ultrasonic and and Radiography Radiography methods methods are are Advanced Advanced NDT
Standard and Specification:
Standard and specification helps to develop common language for developers, designers, fabricators, purchasers and suppliers, End
users.
Standard:- A technical document based on consolidated results of science, technology and experience approved by a standardizing body for the benefits of the people.
Standardization Standardization:- It is the activity giving solutions for repetitive applications to problems, essentially in the sphere of science, technology and economics aimed at the achievement of the optimum
degree of order in a given contest.
Technical specification:- A document which lays down characteristics of a product or a service such as levels of quality performance, safety or dimensions.
Types of Standards:
Basic standard:- It contains general provisions for one particular field.
Terminology standard:- It is concerned with terms, definitions, explanatory explanatory notes, notes, illustrations, illustrations, examples, examples, etc etc..
Testing standards:- A standard concerned exclusively with test methods supplemented with other provisions related to testing such as sampling, statistical methods and sequence of testing.
Product standard:- A standard specifying some or all the requirements to be met by a product.
Safety standard:- A standard aimed at the the safety of the people and goods.
Bodies or Organization – Formulating Standards
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION:-
1. International Organization for  Standardization (ISO):- In plastics field the principle body producing standard is ISO.
2. International Electrochemical Commission (IEC):- In electrical field IEC producing
standards.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION:-
1. British Standard Institution (BSI):- BSI was formed in 1901, producing standards in all
fields.
2. American National Standard Institute (ANSI): ANSI is the premier standardization body
in USA.
3. American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM): ASTM is a Scientific & Technical
Organization formed for the development of standards on characteristics and performance of materials, products, systems and services and promotion of related knowledge.
4. Deutsche Institute Fur Normung (DIN):- The German standard organization was formed
in 1917 producing standards in all the fields in German language which published in English, French French and and Spanish Spanish also.
5. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):- BIS is engaged in developing national standards and
their revision/review from time to time.
Aims of Standardization:
Aims of standardization in general :-
• To achieve maximum overall economy in terms of Cost.
• To ensure maximum convenience in use – simplification, rationalization, interchangeability of parts, increased
productivity, elimination of unnecessary waste and shortening of inventories.
• To adopt the best possible solution to recurring problems by use of scientific knowledge and technological developments.
• Standardization of sampling procedures, test methods, grading schemes and quality specification.
Quality & Standardization:
•Quality is “ the totality of features & characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy a given need in an economical manner.”
• The objective of  standardization is to ensure maximum convenience in use by simplification, rationalization and
interchangeability of parts, increased increased productivity, elimination of waste, shortening of inventories, etc.
Specimen Preparation:
Manufacturing process: Orientation of the molecule chains, as they are created
in, e.g. an injection operation or during stretching (films, deep drawing), has
significant effect on the various characteristics. Other things which effect the
characteristics of the specimen are;
1. cooling speeds
2. Tool temperatures
3. injection speeds
4. curing temperatures
5. and times.
The manufacturing process of a test specimen can be standardized only for molding materials. Tests on finished components allways Show the status of the material at the location the specimen.

Mechanical Properties:
Fundamental to the understanding of a material’s performance  is a knowledge of how the material will respond to any load.
The important mechanical properties are
1. Tensile tests
2. Flexural properties
3. Compressive properties
4. Creep properties
5. Stress relaxation
6. Impact properties
7. Shear strength
8. Abrasion
9. Hardness tests

Fundamentals Of Product Design

Fundamentals Of Product Design:
PRODUCT DESIGN:
Deals with conversion of Ideas in to Reality.
BASIC CONCEPTS OF DESIGN
1. Size
2. Shape
3. Function
4. Eye-Appeal
5. Quality
6. Cost

Design by Evolution
1. In the past, designs used to evolve over long spans of time. The leisurely pace of technological change reduced the risk of making major errors. The circumstances rarely demanded analytical capabilities of the designer. This was design by evolution.
2. Development of the bicycle from its crank operated version to its present present day day chain chain and and sprocket sprocket version version over over a period period of of about about a century is a typical example of design by evolution.
The disadvantages of evolutionary design are:
• Unsuitability for mass production
• Difficulty in modification
• Inability to tap new technologies

Design by Innovation
Following a scientific discovery, a new body of technical knowledge develops rapidly, the proper use of this discovery may result in an
almost complete deviation from part practice. Every skill, which the designer or the design team can muster in analysis and synthesis, is
instrumental in a totally novel design. Examples of design by innovation are:
•Invention of laser beam which has brought about a revolution in medical and engineering fields. Laser based tools have made surgical
knife in medicine and gas cutting in engineering obsolete.
•Invention of solid state electronic resulting in miniaturization of electronic products, which has made vacuum tubes obsolete.

Essential Factors of Product Design
•Need
•Physical reliability
•Economic worthiness
•Financial feasibility
•Optimality
•Design criterion
•Morphology
•Design process
•Sub problems
•Reduction of uncertainty
•Economic worth of evidence
•Bases for decision
•Minimum commitment
•Communication

Why Plastics
Why we use plastic material in the first place instead of traditional and familiar material such as metal. In general plastic offers impressive advantages over metals. Some of it are listed below:
•They are not subjected to corrosion
•They are light in weight with good strength to weight ratio
•Very cost effective
•The speed with which they can be produced
• They give design freedom
•They provide with good electrical insulation property
•They are available in wide range of colours
•Reduced assembly time

The Case for Plastics:
•Light weight
•Toughness
•Resilience
•Vibration Damping
•Resistance to Fatigue
•Low Co-efficient of Friction
• Thermal Insulation
•Corrosion Resistance
•Colour Possibilities
•Manufacturing methods
•Integrated Design
•Price

The Apparent Limitations of Plastics:
It would be misleading not to mention that plastics have some disadvantages, as
do all materials. These disadvantages frequently turn out to be not so much
limitations as challenges for the designer to think of plastics as materials in their
own right rather than as substitutes.
1. Strength, Surface hardness and Abrasion resistance
2. Modulus
3. Temperature resistance
4. UV Resistance and Outdoor weathering
5. Flammability
6. Thermal Expansion
7. Electrostatic charges
8. Orientation
The designer should therefore bear this in mind and take appropriate steps to
overcome the same, in order to meet the specified requirements of application.
Principles & Concepts in Plastic Product Design
Successful manufacture of good plastic products required a combination of
sound judgement and experience. Design of a good plastic product requires
knowledge of plastics & their properties, various moulding methods, post
moulding procedures and information on key design areas, such as
1. Wall thickness 
2. Parting line 
3. Ribs and Bosses 
4. Fillets, Radii and gussets 
5. Taper & draft
6. Holes 
7. Coring 
8. Gate size & location 
9. Location of Ejector pins
10. Tolerance
11. Undercuts
12. Use of metal inserts
13. Threads
14. Fasteners
15. Surface & Finish
16. Shrinkage

Nominal wall thickness:
The determination of wall thickness should be the result of an analysis of the following requirements.
Functional Requirements
1. Structure
2. Strength
3. Dimensional stability
4. Weight
5. Insulation
Manufacturing Requirements
Moulding
               Flow, - Setting & - Ejection
Assembly
               Strength & Precision
Proper wall thickness   -    Success of the product
In adequate wall thickness   -   Poor performance or Structural failure
Too thick section   -   Product unattractive, Over weight or Too expensive & Defective (Warpage, Sink mark, etc., )
Design engineer should also refer the flow characteristics of the Plastics:
Parting line :
Selection of Parting line - To assist easy ejection
Types of parting line
Ribs and Bosses :
The function of ribs
• To increase the strength and rigidity without increasing the wall thickness. 
• To prevent warpage during cooling.
• Facilitate smooth flow during moulding.
Bosses:
 It is a protruding studs. 
 Assist in the assembling of parts 
Radii, fillets & gussets:
Advantages of fillets and radii are:
1.Improving flow of plastics material
2. Eliminates cracking and increase impact strength
3.Better structure with more rigidity and 
better stress distribution
4.Reduction in cycle time
5.Uniform density of the molded article
6.Ensure more economical and long life of mold
7.Prevent cracking of mold parts during heat treatment.
Coring:
Heavy section should be cored to provide uniform wall thickness. 
Parts having heavy cross sections are subject to longer cycles and causes laminations or sinks, blisters, warpage and increased manufacturing costs. Core out or thin down heavy sections to preclude diffic
Undercuts:
Indentation or projection on a molded part  -  Ejection almost impossible
There are many different types of undercuts in 
molded plastic parts.
Threads: 
Molded, Tapped or Part of insert.
Threads used in plastics are :
1. Square  2. Buttress 3. ACME 4. Bottle  5. Unified thread forms 
Coarse threads generally preferred
Fine threads - Closer tolerance - Increase mould cost
Inserts:
1. To provide strength
2. To fulfill electrical requirements
3. To speed up assembly operation
4. To support loads
5. To metal functional requirements
6. Combination of metal and plastics
Gate size and location:
Types of gate.        -   Appearance
Size of gate.           -   Or
Location of gate.   -   Function of the part
A small gate is desirable so that:
1. Gate freezes soon. Prevent voids  due to suck back. 
2. Easy degating or Automatic  degating.
3. Small witness mark remains.
4. Better control of filling of  multi - impression Possible.
5. Packing in excess for compensating the shrinkage.
Location of ejector pins:
Positioning of ejector pin - Marks in the visible area Uniform lifting of the product

Tolerance
Bilateral Unilateral -  As generous as possible
Wider tolerance - Easy to achieve
Closer tolerance - Difficult & expensive 
to achieve
Fastening:
1. Mechanical fasteners
2. Mechanical means
3. Welding 
4. Adhesives

1. Mechanical fasteners
1. Screws
                1. Thread forming
                2. Thread cutting
Clasps: Clasps are used on plastic containers or boxes. 
Hinges:
Standard pin hinge
1. Require moulded holes or drilled holes.
2. Expensive or require cam.
Inexpensive pin hinge
1. Eliminate drilling or cam operation
Heat sealed hinge
1. Very strong and durable
2. Two tabs are heated and bent permanently around the two pins.
Ball grip hinge 
1. Used in small boxes.
2. An accepted standard in the box industry.
3. Balls of 3.2 mm in diameter are molded.
4. Depth 0.45 mm.( approx.)
Shrinkage:
1. Value differ from material to material
2. Generally shrinkage datas in two values
Lesser value    -      For thin parts ( 1.8 mm or less )
Higher values     -      For thick parts ( 3.8 mm or more )
The choice of shrinkage for a selected  material and a specific design is the responsibility of the mould designer, moulder 
and product designer.
Transfer or Injection moulding     -      Higher shrinkage value
Compression moulding     -      Lower shrinkage value
Higher shrinkage due to     -      Imparted directional flow.
Use of small gates do not permit 
the application of high pressure to 
the cavityVu

The shrinkage of injection moulded thermoplastics will be affected as follows:
1. Higher cavity pressure will cause lower shrinkage
2. Thicker parts (3 mm or more) will shrink more than thinner ones.
3. Mould temperature 27°C or less will bring about lower shrinkage, whereas 
temperature 40°C and above or more will produce higher shrinkage.
4. A melt temperature of the material at the lower end of the recommended range will 
produce a lower shrinkage, but the upper end of the range will produce a higher shrinkage.
5. Longer cycle time, above the required solidification point, will bring about lower shrinkage.
6. Openings in a part will bring out lower and varying shrinkage than the part without opening.
7. Larger gates permit higher pressure build - up in the cavity and will cause lower shrinkage.
8. For crystalline and semi crystalline materials, the shrinkage value will be higher 
in flow direction and lower in perpendicular direction. But in a symmetrical part, 
when center gated, the shrinkage will average out and be reasonably uniform.
9. Glass reinforced or otherwise filled thermoplastics have considerably lower 
shrinkage than the basic polymer.

Surface finish:
Decorative texture     -      Improve aesthetic look in moulding
Electroplating of metal on plastics      -    Decorative effect.
                                                 Hide defects -
                                                 Weld line, flow line, shrink marks, etc.,

Necessary radii are provided so that  while plating the concentrated effected is  uniform through the surface.
Raised letter      -      Easier & cheaper to produce
Depression letter      -     Costlier, because lettering  is machined inside the cavity.