ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the technology of fibers, elastomers, coatings, composites, drug delivery, and plastics. Fibers are processed using mainly one of three processes—melt spinning, where the polymer is melted and forced through spinnerets; dry spinning, where the dissolved polymer is forced through a spinneret and the solvent removed; and wet spinning, where the dissolved polymer is forced through a spinneret into a nonsolvent bath. While much of the classic polymer technology was developed without the benefit of science, modern polymer technology and polymer science are closely associated. Polymer processing operations can be divided into five broad categories: spinning (generally for fibers); calendering; coating; molding; and injection. The processing of elastomeric material is quite varied, depending on the end use, form of the material, and material processed. Elastomers are processed using four basic steps—mastication, incorporation or compounding, shaping, and vulcanization.
