Introduction

Formulating is the process of selecting polymeric ingredients and other additives into a recipe, which yields a useful compound. A typical formulation lists the ingredients, their amount, and any special processing needed. There are some similarities between polymeric formulating and creating a food recipe. Stirring or heating or other processing is done with the polymeric ingredients as it is done with the food recipe. Instead of milk, flour, or shortening, polymeric formulations contain resins, curatives, mineral fillers, and other chemicals. There is a whole industry of ingredient suppliers, many having special properties sought by the formulator. Custom formulating involves developing a new compound which satisfies a list of property requirements. Custom formulating can be an expensive process and usually success cannot be guaranteed. The manufacturing department may have input to the material specification. The custom formulator has to develop a single compound able to satisfy several different property requirements.