Summary

Selecting the right plastic material is a challenging task. While there are numerous online tools available for researching plastic materials, they do not provide any insight into the process of material selection. This workshop will provide a methodology to select materials effectively.

Using common language, we will translate general terms about a material’s characteristics – such as stiffness, strength, and toughness – into specific technical properties that are relevant – and quantifiable – to the intended application. We will review industry standard tests that are used to quantify material properties, and discuss how to interpret the data and understand the behavior of the material to assess its use in an intended application.

• Session 1 – Material Science Refresher
• Session 2 – Key Plastic Materials
• Session 3 – Performance, Cost, and Sustainability
• Session 4 – Managing the Material Specification Process

Dates:

May 20, 2024

May 21, 2024

May 22, 2024

May 24, 2024

Eric Larson
Owner & Founder
Art of Mass Production

Eric R. Larson has over forty years experience in plastics engineering. He is the founder of Art of Mass Production, an engineering consulting company based in San Diego, CA. He has worked on a diverse range of products, including disposable lighters, cell phones, office chairs, and hand-held medical devices. Eric has a keen understanding of materials, and knows the value of good design. He also writes and teaches about the effective use of plastics. His book Plastics Materials Selection: A Practical Guide was nominated for a PROSE Award. It is available on Amazon, and in over 600 university libraries in more than 20 different countries.