Design and process parameter definitions
by Ben Chouchaoui, Windsor Industrial Development Laboratory
To shed light on the various stages involved in developing polymers and polymeric products from the standpoint of design and manufacturing, a series of interviews is scheduled with Dr. Ben Chouchaoui of Windsor Industrial Development Laboratory in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The first interview (published in the February 2022 issue of Rubber World) presented an overview of the modern product development process, focusing on polymers and polymeric products. The second interview (published in the April 2022 issue of Rubber World) detailed the development and characterization of polymers for polymeric development through computer modeling. This third interview discusses parameters needed to guide product development. Future interviews will discuss polymer product design, analysis and optimization using finite element analysis, and product manufacturing establishment, simulation and fine tuning in molding, extrusion and thermoforming of thermoplastics and thermosets, rubber and plastics.