ASTM - Major Testing Techniques for Plastics
Date: November 16-18, 2010
Cost: Contact/register at http://www.astm.org/
CEU's: 2
Instructors: Charles G. Smith, Paul Graboff, and Bob Lambert
Location: Akron Polymer Training Center, Akron, OH, 44325-5404
Course Overview: This 3-day class introduces basic principles, techniques, and equipment for the most commonly-used physical and analytical tests on polymeric materials, including: mechanical properties, chemical analysis, combustibility, instrumental analysis, electrical properties, and thermal aging.
Note: This course emphasizes fundamentals rather than advanced theory.
Course Outline:
General
- Basic Polymer Structure & Explanation of Terms
- Analyzing Test Data
- ASTM Standards
Mechanical Properties
- Viscoelastic Behavior-effects of time, temperature, & speed of testing
- Force/Deformation Curves
- Static Tests-tensile, flexural, etc.
- Impact Tests; Long-Term Tests
- Measuring Yield Point, Strain, 4 Kinds of Modulus, etc.
- Computerization & Automation
Introduction to Analytical Techniques
- Chemical Analysis
- Spectroscopy: infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc.
- Chromatography: gas/liquid
- Microscopy
- Thermal Methods
- Molecular Characterization: viscosity, size exclusion, etc.
Application of Instrumental & Chemical Methods
- Additives: types, sample preparation, methods of analysis
- Foreign Materials in Plastics
- Polymer Residuals: headspace analysis by GC, LC
- Polymer: spectroscopy, molecular characterization
- Others: FDA associated, odor, taste, etc.
Aging (Plastics)
- Aging Mechanisms and Rates
- Exposure Conditions
- Failure Examples
Flammability/Combustibility Testing
- Flame Spread: small-, medium-, and large-scale tests
- Heat Release; Smoke; Toxicity; Corrosivity
For more course detail go to http://www.astm.org/.