Materials selection and design for structural polymers

Materials selection and design for structural polymers becomes more and more important for different industrial products such as telephones, pens, computers, TV-sets, kitchenware, car parts, toys, etc. Polymers have often been considered as an inferior and weak material in many areas. However, it has mainly been due to the fact that polymers, as well as many other materials, have too often been used in uncertain or wrong applications. In this paper, the principles for materials selection are presented as a model with different steps from definition of functions to the feedback from the delivered product. Design aspects and examples of methods to fulfil demands for manufacturing, assembly, disassembly, service and recycling, etc, are also presented as well as environmental friendly solutions for product development. Examples of Integrated Product Development for plastics with design aspects are given and analysed.