This reference guide brings together a wide range of critical data on the effect of temperature on plastics and elastomers, enabling engineers to make optimal material choices and design decisions. The effects of humidity level and strain rate on mechanical and electrical properties are also covered. The data are supported by explanations of how to make use of the data in real world engineering contexts.High (and low) temperatures can have a significant impact on plastics processing and applications, particularly in industries such as automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, packaging, and medical devices, where metals are increasingly being replaced by plastics. Additional plastics have also been included for polyesters, polyamides and others where available, including polyolefins, elastomers and fluoropolymers. Entirely new sections on biodegradable polymers and thermosets have been added to the book. The level of data included – along with the large number of graphs and tables for easy comparison – saves readers the need to contact suppliers, and the selection guide has been fully updated, giving assistance on the questions which engineers should be asking when specifying materials for any given application.

Larry McKeen has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin and worked for DuPont Fluoroproducts from 1978–2014. As a Senior Research Associate (Chemist), he was responsible for new product development including application technology and product optimization for particular end-uses, and product testing. He retired from DuPont at the end of 2014 and is currently a consultant.