The mechanical properties of plastics will vary depending on the temperature. Significant changes in short-term properties such as strength and ductility, as well as long-term properties including creep and fatigue can be observed, even over a relatively small range. This instability is due to the inherent molecular structure of polymeric materials and the resulting viscoelasticity. Having a very different structure, metals do not exhibit this type of behavior, and the variation in plastics can be overlooked. Many applications expose plastic components to temperatures above and below ambient. In order to avoid failure, it is important to understand how the properties will change across the use range.
At the conclusion of this course you will:
Have a better understanding of how plastic mechanical properties change as a function of temperature.
Recognize that there are both lower-end and upper-end temperature limits for polymer materials.
Be more familiar with the testing that can be utilized for evaluating the effects of temperature on plastics, as well as tests that are commonly used but provide very little useful information.
Jeffrey A. Jansen is the Engineering Manager and a Partner at The Madison Group, an independent plastics engineering and consulting firm. Jeff is a proven plastic professional with more than 30 years of experience solving problems and addressing opportunities related to polymeric materials. He specializes in failure analysis, material identification and selection, as well as compatibility, aging, and lifetime prediction studies for thermoplastic materials. Jeff has performed over 5,000 investigations, both for industrial clients and as a part of litigation. He is a regular presenter on the SPE webinar series, covering a wide range of topics related to plastics failure, material performance, testing, and polymer technology. Jeff is a graduate of Carroll College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
This course is ideal for professionals involved in the design, manufacturing, and testing of plastic components, including:
Designers and engineers tasked with creating plastic components that must perform reliably across a wide range of temperatures.
Technical managers overseeing the selection and implementation of materials for temperature-sensitive applications.
Quality assurance professionals looking to evaluate and ensure the performance of plastics under various temperature conditions, from low to high extremes.
Testing and laboratory professionals aiming to identify the most effective methods for assessing temperature-related properties such as creep, fatigue, and ductility.
Product developers and material selectors who need to make informed decisions about materials to minimize risks of failure in demanding thermal environments.
Consultants who want to understand how plastic failures are driven by temperature conditions and how to prevent such issues in client applications.
Why Should You Attend?
Are you working with plastic components that must perform reliably across a range of temperatures?
Plastics behave differently from metals, with mechanical properties like strength and ductility varying significantly based on temperature. Understanding these changes is vital to designing components that withstand real-world conditions.
Are you struggling with the lifespan of plastic parts when they are exposed to high-temperature environments?
Are you struggling with the fragility of the material in low-temperature environments?
Low temperatures can cause plastics to become brittle, increasing the risk of cracking or failure under stress. Selecting materials with suitable low-temperature performance is critical for such applications.
Are you looking to evaluate plastic performance in demanding environments?
Proper testing methods are key to accurately assessing how temperature impacts short-term and long-term properties such as creep and fatigue, enabling you to predict performance and prevent failures.
Are you unsure which tests provide meaningful insights into temperature-related performance?
Not all tests are equally useful. Understanding which evaluations yield reliable data can save time and resources while improving product design and quality assurance.
This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.
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30 days prior to the event start date a full refund minus a $50 processing fee will be granted. No refunds after. Please contact customerrelations@4spe.org for assistance with registration.
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