Dissertation (Ph. D.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Polymer Engineering, 2009. / "May, 2009." Title from electronic dissertation title page (viewed 11/27/2009) Advisor, Avraam I. Isayev; Committee members, James L. White, Erol Sancaktar, Kevin Kreider, Minel J. Braun; Department Chair, Sadhan C. Jana; Dean of the College, Stephen Cheng; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

The extrusion blow molding process is an important polymer processing operation which involves a complex thermo-mechanical history. / Specimens were obtained from two commercial, blow molding grade, high density polyethylene resins, employing an instrumented Impco reciprocating screw blow molding machine. High speed cinematography was employed in conjunction with a parison pinch-off mold and a transparent blow mold to characterize the dimensional changes of the parison during the parison formation and the clamping and inflation stages. The contact temperature and the heat removal rate were measured during the cooling stage. Numerical methods were employed to investigate the thermal history during various stages. After molding at various operating conditions, the molded specimens were extensively characterized in relation to the distribution of thickness, crystallinity, orientation and impact behavior. / The distributions were analyzed in relation to the data obtained regarding the thermo-mechanical history during the molding process and some theoretical considerations of the relevant flow and heat transfer phenomena.

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