. Space Industry and Business News .




.
TECH SPACE
Research leads to enhanced kit to improve design and processing of plastics
by Staff Writers
London, UK (SPX) Oct 05, 2011

This is a PVT machine at NPL. Credit: NPL

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has developed a world-leading pvT (pressure-volume-temperature) and thermal conductivity test kit.

The kit is based on more than nine years of extensive research at NPL. It can be used to help improve the design and processing of plastics, including the injection moulding process used to make specialised polymers and everyday plastic items such as CDs

NPL's equipment can measure the thermo-physical properties of polymers. It can help improve the injection moulding process by allowing designers to find the exact pvT and shrinkage properties of a material. Although plastics are the main material tested, other more unusual materials such as soap and even chocolate have also been analysed.

The pvT instrument operates at pressures ranging from 200 bar to 2500 bar, and is the only equipment in the world that can test materials at ultra fast cooling rates of up to 280 degrees C/min and down to temperatures approaching -100 degrees C. NPL found that at higher pressures polymers can conduct heat up to 20% more efficiently, leading to faster cooling rates and shorter cycle times.

A thermal conductivity measurement facility is also incorporated into the instrument. Research on the thermal conductivity properties of polymers such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) is vital to manufacturers and it was found that they can increase their production rates and gain a higher profit by filling a polymer with glass - as this cools faster, reducing the time that the polymer needs to stay in the mould. The less time the polymer stays in the mould, the faster the output rate of products.

Angela Dawson a Higher Research Scientist for NPL's Materials Division, said:

"pvT testing kits are essential for improving design and processing of ubiquitous, everyday plastics and for more specialised polymers with advanced applications. NPL is the only laboratory where manufacturers can send materials for testing using this advanced equipment and this work has improved the reliability and accuracy of measuring pvT data."

Related Links
National Physical Laboratory
Space Technology News - Applications and Research




.
.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries






.

. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



TECH SPACE
When Water Becomes Glass
Pisa, Italy (SPX) Oct 05, 2011
Rapid cooling of ordinary water or compression of ordinary ice: either of these can transform normal H2O into an exotic substance that resembles glass in its transparency, brittleness, hardness, and luster. Unlike everyday ice, which has a highly organized crystalline structure, this glass-like material's molecules are arranged in a random, disorganized way. Scientists have studied g ... read more


TECH SPACE
India to launch $45 tablet computer

Research leads to enhanced kit to improve design and processing of plastics

When Water Becomes Glass

Apple chief Cook to debut hot new iPhone

TECH SPACE
NRL TacSat-4 Launches to Augment Communications Needs

US Space Completes Study for USAF and Identifies Cost-Effective Ways to Procure MILSATCOM

Northrop Grumman Tech Pivotal in US Marine Corps' MTAOM Command and Control System

Proton-M puts military purpose spacecraft into orbit

TECH SPACE
Russia's Soyuz-2.1B carrier rocket orbits Glonass satellite

Sea Launch resumes operations after 2-year break

Ariane 5 marks fifth launch for 2011

Countdown to first Soyuz launch at Kourou under way

TECH SPACE
Ruling Fuels Debate On Warrantless Cell Phone Tracking

Raytheon GPS OCX Completes Preliminary Design Review

Hexagon Enhances Satellite-based Positioning Solutions with Locata Local Constellation

Locata Publishes Interface Specifications and Launches New Local Constellation Concept

TECH SPACE
NASA Awards Historic Green Aviation Prize

'Flying carpet' developed in U.S. lab

Teams Fly Over First Round of Competition Hurdles

China opposes EU's 'unilateral' airline tax plan

TECH SPACE
New FeTRAM is promising computer memory technology

Japan's Elpida eyes chip production base in China

Like fish on waves electrons go surfing

Scientists play ping-pong with single electrons

TECH SPACE
NASA Leads Study of Unprecedented Arctic Ozone Loss

Scientists hail Africa's steps into space

Nigerian satellite demonstrates stunning high resolution capability

Russia may launch its first Earth remote sensing satellite in 2012

TECH SPACE
Canadian gold mine project sows discord in Romania

China activist defies officials in fight to save lake

England can breathe easy: bins to be emptied weekly

Warning of second Hungarian toxic mud spill


.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement