Plastics Engineering/Processing

The New Jersey Bell Plastics Laboratory, housed within the complex of the Center for Manufacturing Systems, is well equipped with a wide range of state-of-the-art plastics processing and forming equipment, and is supported by analytical testing capabilities. It is used for a wide range of research and development activities.

Recent research activities include re-engineering of commingled waste plastics, studies on self-reinforced composites, and a combined parametric and experimental study to develop models to explain the interrelationships between product properties and process parameters for injection molding process. The latter include: modeling of heat transfer and flow-induced crystallization during an injection molding process.

As part of the research activities, students use CAD and CAE tools in the design, stress analysis, and/or mold cavity flow simulation for troubleshooting the manufacture of plastics products. In some cases students actually manufacture the part based on their CAD design, and compare the part properties with computer predictions. Two well-equipped laboratories are used to support this group.

The Plastics Analysis Laboratory, located in Room 333C of the Mechanical Engineering Center, houses custom-built equipment for measuring heat resistance (at plastic/metal interface as occurs in injection molding) and thermal conductivity for plastics

New Jersey Bell Plastics Laboratory is housed in the Center for Manufacturing Systems, on the ground floor of the Guttenberg Information Technologies Center.. The lab is well equipped with a wide range of state of the art plastics processing and forming equipment and is supported by analytical testing capabilities. This lab is used for a wide range of research and development activities.

For further Information contact:

Kwabena A. Narh
Mechanical Engineering Department
Mechanical Engineering Center, Room 330
973-596-3353