Tensile Strength: Yield or Break

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Most of us in the plastic materials industry have some familiarity with the various ASTM and ISO test methods that are reported on data sheets and certificates of analysis. However, if you do a deep dive into any of the test methods, and by deep dive I mean read from stem to stern, you will find all kinds of things that you might not have thought of. Having set up and run an accredited testing laboratory in the past, I performed deep dives into many of the ASTM and ISO procedures.

Today, I want to explore one small part of the ASTM D 638 procedure for tensile properties. Before you say that you would rather drink battery acid, let me assure you that I will not dive too deep and I will leave you with some practical information and you will be able to point out a mistake on a lot of data sheets and certificates of analysis in the future.

Continue reading “Tensile Strength: Yield or Break”

Weekly News Digest 4/24/2017

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Commodity material prices increase in March

Companies working to develop new nano-cellulose reinforced material

New M&G PET plant back on schedule after problems with contractor

Akzo Nobel to separate chemicals arm

ExxonMobil and SABIC to build joint polyethylene plant in Corpus Christi TX and Here

Nova buying majority stake in olefins plant

US production of polyethylene to exceed domestic demand

Weekly Resin Report: Processors seek to shore up depleted inventories

 

 

News Digest 4/17/2017

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Editors Note: Sorry about the news digest not being posted last week. I had a bit of a family emergency.

Japan Polypropylene introduces new grade of glass fiber reinforced TPO for automotive interior parts

Invista develops new nylon 1,6 resin

Weekly Resin Report (4/11/2017): Processor and supplier activity picks up at start of Q2

New Clariant master-batches boost properties for recycled PET and PLA

Weekly Resin Report (4/4/2017): Spot polypropylene prices develop steep discounts to contracts

PS, PVC prices climb in March

Formosa shuts down PVC plant after leak

Miliken & Company acquires Keystone Aniline

European compounders threatened by tight titanium dioxide supplies

 

News Digest 4/3/2017

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Clariant introduces low VOC stabilizer packages for automotive interior plastics

Trinseo doubles down on medical market, achieves ISO 13485 certification

Weekly Resin Report II: Flow of offers improves, prompted by better liquidity for most materials

Compounding Solutions to provide compounding for Lubrizol medical grade polyurethanes

Solvay sells cross-linkable compounds unit

Nova, Borealis and Total Petrochemicals to form joint venture to make PE in Texas

Americhem to overhaul UK manufacturing site