| Introduction | p. 1 |
| Plastics Fundamentals | p. 5 |
| What are Plastics? | p. 6 |
| What are Plastics Made Of? | p. 6 |
| How are Plastics Classified? | p. 7 |
| How are Plastics Identified? | p. 8 |
| What are the Physical Properties of Plastics? | p. 8 |
| Review Questions | p. 12 |
| Raw Materials and Polymer Synthesis | p. 13 |
| Raw Materials for Plastics | p. 14 |
| Monomers and Polymers | p. 15 |
| Polyethylene Synthesis | p. 16 |
| Review Questions | p. 18 |
| Methods of Polymer Synthesis | p. 19 |
| Addition of Polymerization | p. 20 |
| Polycondensation | p. 22 |
| Polyaddition (step addition) | p. 24 |
| Review Questions | p. 26 |
| Bonding Forces in Polymers | p. 27 |
| Bonding Forces Within Molecules | p. 28 |
| Intermolecular Forces | p. 28 |
| Effects of Temperature | p. 29 |
| Review Questions | p. 30 |
| Classification of Plastics | p. 31 |
| Identification of Plastics Categories | p. 32 |
| Thermoplastics | p. 32 |
| Cross-linked Plastics (Elastomers, Thermosets) | p. 34 |
| Review Questions | p. 36 |
| Deformation Behavior of Plastics | p. 37 |
| Behavior of Thermoplastics | p. 38 |
| Amorphous Thermoplastics | p. 39 |
| Semicrystalline Thermoplastics | p. 40 |
| Behavior of Cross-linked Plastics | p. 42 |
| Review Questions | p. 44 |
| Time-Dependent Behavior of Plastics | p. 45 |
| Load-bearing Behavior of Plastics | p. 46 |
| Effects of Time on Mechanical Behavior | p. 47 |
| Recovery Behavior of Thermoplastics | p. 48 |
| Dependence of Plastics on Time and Temperature | p. 49 |
| Review Questions | p. 52 |
| Physical Properties | p. 53 |
| Density | p. 54 |
| Thermal Conductivity | p. 55 |
| Electrical Conductivity | p. 56 |
| Transparency | p. 57 |
| Characteristic Material Values | p. 58 |
| Review Questions | p. 60 |
| Plastics Fabrication and Processing | p. 61 |
| Methods of Fabrication and Processing | p. 62 |
| Methods for Shaping Thermoplastics | p. 63 |
| Review Questions | p. 64 |
| Plastics Compounding | p. 65 |
| Overview | p. 66 |
| Additives and Metering | p. 66 |
| Mixing | p. 67 |
| Plasticizing | p. 69 |
| Pelletizing | p. 70 |
| Size reduction | p. 71 |
| Review Questions | p. 72 |
| Extrusion | p. 73 |
| Introduction | p. 74 |
| Extrusion Equipment | p. 74 |
| Coextrusion | p. 81 |
| Extrusion Blow Molding | p. 82 |
| Review Questions | p. 84 |
| Injection Molding | p. 85 |
| Introduction | p. 86 |
| Injection Molding Machine | p. 87 |
| Mold | p. 90 |
| Process Sequence | p. 92 |
| Injection Molding of Thermosets and Elastomers | p. 95 |
| Review Questions | p. 96 |
| Fiber-Reinforced Plastics | p. 97 |
| Materials | p. 98 |
| Process Sequence | p. 100 |
| Manual Processing Methods | p. 101 |
| Automated Processing Methods | p. 102 |
| Review Questions | p. 106 |
| Plastic Foams | p. 107 |
| Properties of Foams | p. 108 |
| Foam Production | p. 111 |
| Review Questions | p. 114 |
| Thermoforming | p. 115 |
| Fundamentals | p. 116 |
| Process Steps | p. 116 |
| Technical Equipment | p. 118 |
| Review Questions | p. 120 |
| Welding Plastics | p. 121 |
| Fundamentals | p. 122 |
| Process Steps | p. 122 |
| Welding Methods | p. 123 |
| Review Questions | p. 128 |
| Machining Plastics | p. 129 |
| Fundamentals | p. 130 |
| Technical Processes | p. 130 |
| Review Questions | p. 134 |
| Adhesive Bonding of Plastics | p. 135 |
| Fundamentals | p. 136 |
| Classification of Adhesives | p. 139 |
| Cementing Procedure | p. 140 |
| Review Questions | p. 142 |
| Plastics Products and Plastics Waste | p. 143 |
| Discussion of Plastics Wastes | p. 144 |
| Plastics in Production and Processing | p. 144 |
| Plastics Products and Their Life Expectancies | p. 145 |
| Waste Reduction and Utilization | p. 147 |
| Review Questions | p. 148 |
| Recycling Plastics | p. 149 |
| Recycling of Plastics | p. 150 |
| Mechanical Recycling | p. 150 |
| Feedstock Recycling | p. 153 |
| Energy Recovery | p. 154 |
| Review Questions | p. 156 |
| Glossary of Plastics Technology | p. 157 |
| Selected Literature | p. 163 |
| Example of a Training Program for Plastics Processing Operators in the US | p. 167 |
| Answers to Review Questions | p. 179 |
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