ABSORPTION: The penetration into the mass of one substance by another
ANNEALING: A process of heating a material to a temperature just below its melting point and then gradually cooling it. This will relax stress caused during the molding process without distortion of the shape.
ASTM: American Society of Testing Materials (www.astm.org)
AUTOCLAVE: A closed vessel for conducting chemical reactions under high pressure and temperature.
BLOOM: A cloudy, greasy film on the surface of a plastic part or film usually caused by the extraction of an additive, such as a lubricant, stabilizer, etc.
CELLULOSE: A naturally occurring polysaccharide consisting solely of glucose units and found in most plants. It is the main constituent of dried woods, jute, flax, hemp, etc.
CRAZING: Minute cracks near the surface of plastic materials.
DELAMINATION: The separation of layers in a laminate through failure of the resin binder or adhesive.
ESTER: The reaction product of an alcohol and an acid.
FEP: Fluorinated ethylene propylene.
GAMMA RADIATION: An electromagnetic radiation of great penetrating power emitted by the nucleus of a radioactive substance.
HAZE: Cloudiness in a plastic material.
IZOD IMPACT TEST: A test for shock loading wherein a notched sample bar is held at one end and broken by striking.
MANDREL: A core around which material is wound as in filament winding, which when removed, forms a hollow center in a tube.
NEOPRENE: A synthetic rubber produced by the polymerization of chloroprene providing a high resistance to oil, light, heat, and oxidation.
OUTGASSING: The release of a volatile substance from a compound during curing.
POSTFORMING: The forming, bending, or shaping of fully cured thermoset laminate.
SINTERING: The process of holding a fusible pressed-powder article at a temperature just below its melting point for a period of time to fuse (sinter) the particles together.
THERMOSET: A material that will undergo or has undergone a chemical reaction by the action of heat, ultraviolet light, catalysts, etc., leading to a relatively infusible and cross-linked state.
YIELD STRENGTH: The lowest stress at which a material undergoes plastic deformation. Below this stress the plastic is elastic; above it , viscous.
The terms and definitions for this issue’s Word Search come from a glossary compiled by NewAge Industries (www.newageindustries.com), a manufacturer and fabricator of plastic tubing and hose and private-label reseller of fittings and clamps.
