Course Title

Course Title: Manufacturing with Polymers

20 Professional Development Hours/2.0 CEUs

Course Description: The Manufacturing with Polymers course explains the different types of thermoplastics and describes some of the many different ‘families’ of thermoplastic materials. Also presented are foams, and three composite materials: sheet molding compound, resin transfer molding and reaction injection molding. Methods of manufacturing these materials are described and the equipment and techniques used to manufacture finished products are given.

Overall Course Objectives:

Identify the various families of thermoplastics and how their chemical structure affects the properties.
Recognize test methods used to measure thermoplastic material properties.
Understand the chemistry, manufacturing and physical properties of foams.

Course Content:

Lesson 1 - Thermoplastic Materials and Additives

Objectives:

Describe the three main classifications of thermoplastics based upon crystalline structure.

Relate the structure of the various thermoplastics to their material properties.

Gain knowledge of how additives affect the properties and processing of thermoplastics.

Lesson 2 - Testing and Specifications for Plastics

Objectives:

Understand the importance of proper sample preparation and conditioning.

Differentiate between tensile and flexural testing for properties such as strength and yield.

Describe impact resistance testing and the factors which may influence test results.

Lesson 3 - Foams

Objectives:

Understand the chemistry and manufacturing of foam materials.

Identify the physical properties of foams and the test methods used for measuring them.

Recognize the typical applications for foams.

Lesson 4 - Compression Molding and Resin Transfer Molding

Objectives:

Explain how sheet molding compound is manufactured.

Indicate the benefits and limitations of the resin transfer molding process.

Describe the three phases of the resin transfer molding process.

Lesson 5 - Reaction Injection Molding

Objectives:

Gain knowledge of the reaction injection molding process.

Explain the elements of a reaction injection molding equipment system.

List and describe the eight steps of the reaction injection molding process.

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