News at PTLI

"What Is This Plastic? - Analytical Techniques for Basic Material Identification" presented by James Koehler, Chemist/Quality Manager, Plastics Technology Laboratories, Inc. (PTLI)
5/18/2006 - May 18 - Online Seminar

The next e-Live Presentation PTLI will host for SPE is "What Is This Plastic? - Analytical Techniques for Basic Material Identification" presented by James Koehler, Chemist/Quality Manager, Plastics Technology Laboratories, Inc.

Date / Time:
May 18, 2006 / 11AM EST

Presentation Description:
The globalization and increased sophistication of the polymer industry has increased the number of requests for material identification. Requests for material identification can be broken into two major categories. The first category is identifying what polymer the resin or part is and if it is the correct material. The second category is whether the resin or part is contaminated.

This presentation will identify and discuss a sequence of test procedures commonly used to identify a polymer, determine if the polymer is filled, identify the type and percent total filler, determine the glass transition temperature of an amorphous polymer, the melt temperature of a thermoplastic polymer, and identify techniques for determining whether a polymer is contaminated with another polymer, or a polymer has a surface chemical contamination. Techniques described include Fourier Transform Infared Analysis FTIR (ASTM E168, E1252), Differential Scanning Calorimetry DSC (ASTM D3417, D3418, E1356, ISO 11357), Ash Content (ASTM D5630, D2584, ISO 3451) and Thermogravimetric Analysis TGA (ASTM E1131, ISO 11358)

Presenter:
James A. Koehler is a Chemist and Quality Manager at Plastics Technology Laboratories, an ISO/IEC 17025 certified test facility for polymers, elastomers, composites and films. He has been employed at PTLI since November 1995. Jim received a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from North Adams State College and was later hired by the Chemistry Department as a Laboratory Instructor. His duties involved teaching Introductory, Organic and Analytical Chemistry labs. After leaving his teaching position Jim worked for the General Electric Plastics Technology Department in Pittsfield, MA as a wet chemistry research lab technician and an analytical lab technician. He also worked as a VLSI Laboratory Specialist in the Silicon Processing Lab located at GE Corporate Research & Development Center in Schenectady, NY and as a Technical Assistant / Manager in the Chemistry Department at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.

Log On:
The presentation is available on the SPE website. All proceeds go directly to SPE.

Past Presentations by PTLI include:
• "Introduction to Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Rigid Polymers" presented by R. James Galipeau, Laboratory Manager, Plastics Technology Laboratories, Inc. (PTLI) was so successful that it is being featured by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) as one of the "Best of SPE's e-Learning Center" at the SPE booth, NPE 2006.
• "Introduction to Plastics Testing" presented by Glenn Sime, Plastics Technology Laboratories, Inc.

"What Is This Plastic? - Analytical Techniques for Basic Material Identification" presented by James Koehler, Chemist/Quality Manager, Plastics Technology Laboratories, Inc. (PTLI)