E-Book Overview
Reporting on the work of an international team of scientists actively involved in the study of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) based on polyesters, polyamides, and polyurethanes, this book is the first to provide a detailed description of condensation TPE with close attention paid to polyamide-based systems. Reflecting the increasing importance of TPE as engineering plastics, the authors discuss the widened application opportunities by preparing systems with various chemical compositions and molecular structures as (semi-) interpenetrating networks. The contents also cover the chemical aspects, physical structure and properties, life cycle assessment, and recycling possibilities as well as such unique "smart" properties like the shape memory effect of the three classes of thermoplastic elastomers.
E-Book Content
Handbook of Condensation Thermoplastic Elastomer Edited by S. Fakirov
Further Titles of Interest Th. Meyer, J. Keurentjes (Eds.) Handbook of Polymer Reaction Engineering 2005, ISBN 3-527-31014-2 H.-G. Elias Macromolecules Vols.1-4 2005, ISBN 3-527-31172-6, 3-527-31173-4, 3-527-31174-2, 3-527-31175-0 M. F. Kemmere, Th. Meyer (Eds.) Supercritical Carbon Dioxide in Polymer Reaction Engineering 2005, ISBN 3-527-31092-4 M. Xanthos (Ed.) Functional Fillers for Plastics 2005, ISBN 3-527-31054-1 R. C. Advincula, W. J. Brittain, K. C. Caster, J. Rühe (Eds.) Polymer Brushes 2004, ISBN 3-527-31033-9 S. Fakirov (Ed.) Handbook of Thermoplastic Polyesters 2002, ISBN 3-527-30113-5 E. S. Wilks (Ed.) Industrial Polymers Handbook Products, Processes, Applications 2000, ISBN 3-527-30260-3
Handbook of Condensation Thermoplastic Elastomers Edited by Stoyko Fakirov
WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA
Editor Prof. Stoyko Fakirov University of Sofia Faculty of Chemistry 1164 Sofia Bulgaria
All books published by Wiley-VCH are carefully produced. Nevertheless, authors, editor, and publisher do not warrant the information contained in these books, including this book, to be free of errors. Readers are advised to keep in mind that statements, data, illustrations, procedural details or other items may inadvertently be inaccurate. Library of Congress Card No.: Applied for British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data: A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at .
© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim All rights reserved (including those of translation into other languages). No part of this book may be reproduced in any form – nor transmitted or translated into machine language without written permission from the publishers. Registered names, trademarks, etc. used in this book, even when not specifically marked as such, are not to be considered unprotected by law. Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany Printed on acid-free paper Cover Design Grafik Design Schulz, Fußgönheim Printing Strauss GmbH, Mörlenbach Bookbinding Litges & Dopf, Heppenheim ISBN-13 978-3-527-30976-4 ISBN-10 3-527-30976-4
Preface
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) belong to a relatively new and small class of engineering plastics. Nevertheless, they enjoy a steady growth because of their unusual and very important combination of properties. During service, TPE behave as elastomers (e.g., as vulcanized natural rubber) but, in contrast to the classical elastomers, they can be processed by means of the conventional techniques and equipment utilized for all thermoplastics. This peculiarity of TPE is related to their different type of crosslinking. Unlike the classical elastomers, TPE are crosslinked by thermally labile aggregates, which melt during processing and regenerate af