Plastics Workshops and Seminars
Thermoset Materials and Processes
Hands-On Workshop
Instructor: Michael Sepe
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Product designers, molders, buyers, and mold designers can benefit from this one-day seminar. Anyone desiring a better understanding of when thermoset materials should be considered, which materials are available, or the types of processes used to convert them to finished parts should attend this seminar.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
Thermosets were the first plastics. They dominated the polymer materials technology landscape from their inception in the 1840’s until just before the second World War. Since that time, the explosion in thermoplastic materials has swept the thermoset industry into a corner that occupies less than 15% of the market. Lack of investment in new technology and a general inability to convincingly sell a balanced cost/performance slate to processors and end users has aggravated this decline. Yet thermosets retain a unique set of capabilities that are often ignored or only used after thermoplastic materials have failed. This course seeks to highlight the fundamental principles of thermoset material chemistry, processing, and performance. It will help broaden the thinking process for those responsible for material selection.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE:
1. Thermosets versus Thermoplastics
- Methods of Polymerization
- Differences in Processing
- Inherent Benefits and Disadvantages of Thermoset Materials
2. Thermoset Material Families
- Phenolics - Single Stage and Two Stage
- Unsaturated Polyesters and Vinyl Esters
- Amino Resins - Ureas, Melamines, etc.
- Epoxies
- High Performance Materials
- Developments that Blur the Lines between Thermosets and Thermoplastics
3. Processing Methods - Advantages & Disadvantages
- Compression Molding
- Transfer Molding
- Injection Molding
- Reaction Injection Molding
- Cure Monitoring
4. Property Evaluations - Short Term
- Physical Properties - Tensile, Flexural, and Compression
- Impact Properties
- Thermal Properties
- Comparing Thermosets and Thermoplastics
5. Property Evaluations - Long Term
- Effects of Temperature
- Chemical Resistance
- Creep Resistance, Stress Relaxation, and Fatigue
- The Time-Temperature Equivalence
- Comparing Thermosets to Thermoplastics
6. Property Modifications
- The Role of Post Curing and Evaluating Degree of Cure
- Fillers and Reinforcements
- The Cost/Performance Profile
- Designing for Manufacturing - Wall Thickness, Viscosity, & Process Selection
- The Technology Gap in Thermosets
7. Selecting A Material Supplier
- Product Consistency
- The Role of Shelf Life
- Technical Support
- Formulation Flexibility