Defining the fundamentals that determine plastic properties

• Molecular weight - the foundation of polymer technology 
• The relationship to viscosity 
• The relationship to properties 
• Methods of measurement 
• New technologies that change the rules 
• Methods of polymerization - addition and condensation polymers 
• Effect on properties 
• Effect on processing 
• Polarity - Why nylon absorbs water but not gasoline 
• Amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers - the one thing you must know about polymer structure  
• Detecting the presence of crystalline structure 
• Effects on processing 
• Effects on properties 
• The role of polymer blend 

Property Evaluations - Short-term

• Tensile, flexural, and compressive properties 
• Impact properties - various methods of measurement 
• Thermal properties 
• Other properties - chemical resistance, optical, radiation resistance 
• Why the data sheet properties do not work for material selection 
• The behavior behind the numbers 
• The role of material property databases and selection utilities 

Property Evaluations - Long-term

• Effects of temperature 
• Reduction in strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures 
• Dimensional stability 
• Structural changes due to thermal aging 
• Thermal degradation and oxidation 
• Loss of ductility at reduced temperatures
• Chemical resistance - effects of temperature and time
• Creep resistance, stress relaxation, and fatigue 
• Defining the mechanisms 
• Data presentation
• Accelerated testing methods - advantages and pitfalls
• The fundamental equivalence of temperature and time
• Environmental stress crack resistance - the differences from chemical attack
• Radiation resistance - weathering, ultraviolet, sterilization 

Property Modifications   

• Fillers and reinforcements 
• Glass fibers - the long and the short of it
• Minerals - talc, mica, calcium carbonate and the new nanocomposites 
• High performance fibers
• What gets used where and why
• Impact modifiers
• Colorants
• Stabilizers - importance to processing and part performance

Establishing the Cost/Performance Profile   

• Defining application requirements
• Matching requirements to a cost-effective material family
• Design properties versus inherent properties
• Designing for manufacturing - wall thickness, viscosity & process selection
• The role of simulation

Selecting a Material Supplier

• Sampling versus sustained performance
• Quality systems and audits
• Technical support
• Majors versus independent compounders
• The role of distribution

Case Studies - Successes and Failures