Introduction

As the word itself suggests, polymers1 are materials composed of many molecules or parts that result in long chains. These large molecules are generally referred to as macromolecules. The unique material properties of polymers and the versatility of their processing methods are attributed to their molecular structure. For many applications, the ease with which polymers and plastics2 are processed makes them the most sought-after material today. Because of their relatively low density and their ability to be shaped and molded at relatively low temperatures compared to traditional materials such as metals, plastics, and polymers are the material of choice when integrating several parts into a single component – a design aspect usually called part consolidation. In fact, parts and components that have traditionally been made of wood, metal, ceramic or glass are redesigned for plastics on a daily basis.