Thermoforming: A Plastics Processing Guide, Second Edition

Content: Cover
 Half Title
 Title Page
 Copyright Page
 Table of Contents
 Foreword
 Preface
 1: Introduction
 2: Heating of the Plastic
 Means of conveying heat to the plastic
 Physics of radiation heating
 Thermal properties of plastics
 Heating equipment for plastic sheets
 Judging the correct temperature of the heated sheet
 Heater controls
 Clamping of sheets
 3: Thermoforming Molds
 Reduction in wall thickness: male and female molds
 Computer-aided engineering for thermoforming
 Part shrinkage and dimensional tolerances
 Warpage
 Draft in the mold
 Surface appearance
 Mold materials Mold-cooling provisionsAir passage holes
 Increasing stiffness
 Mold plugs
 4: Vacuum, Air Pressure, and Mechanical Forces
 Measuring vacuum and pressure forces
 Vacuum sources
 Vacuum accumulators or surge tanks
 Application of vacuum forces
 Pressure forming
 Mechanical forming
 5: Cooling of Thermoformed Parts
 Means o f cooling the formed part
 Non-conventional cooling methods
 6: Trimming of Thermoformed Parts
 Tools for trimming
 7: Thermoforming Equipment
 Single-station thermoformer
 Shuttle thermoformer
 Rotary thermoforming equipment
 Continuous in-line thermoformers In-line thermoformerLinear thermoformers
 Pneumatic thermoformers
 Hydraulically operated thermoformers
 Mechanically operated thermoformers
 Skin packaging equipment
 Blister packaging equipment
 Snap packaging
 Vacuum packaging
 Packaging machinery
 Control mechanisms
 8: Thermoforming-Related Material Properties
 Glass transition temperature
 Heat deflection temperature
 Softening range and hot strength
 Specific heat
 Thermal conductivity
 Thermal expansion
 Heat of fusion
 Thermal diftusivity
 Thermal stability
 Water absorption
 Orientation and crystallization Manufacture o f starting materialsCoextrusions and laminates
 Mechanical properties
 Material economics
 Regrind utilization
 9: Thermoforming Materials' Chemical Descriptions
 Acrylics
 Cellulosics
 Polyolefins
 Styrene polymers
 Vinyl resins
 Engineering plastics
 Copolymers, blends, and alloys
 Fiber-reinforced thermoplastics
 Transparent materials
 Barrier materials
 Electrical properties
 Plastics recycling
 Flammability of plastics
 Toxicity of plastics
 10: Thermoforming Processes
 Billow, bubble, or free forming
 Cavity forming
 Drape forming
 Plug-assist forming
 Billow drape forming Snap-back formingAir slip forming
 Reverse draw with plug-assist forming
 Trapped sheet pressure forming
 Twin-sheet forming
 Pressure forming
 Mechanical thermoforming
 Plug-and-ring forming or ridge forming
 Slip forming
 Matched-mold forming
 Rubber pad and fluid pressure or diaphragm forming
 Other thermoforming processes
 Adjusting process parameters
 Thermoforming troubleshooting guide
 11: Design Considerations
 Assembly and bonding
 Snap-fits
 Mechanical bonding
 Forming around inserts
 Welding
 Solvent bonding
 Adhesive bonding
 Rigidizing thcrmoformed parts
 Bonding multiple parts