Infrared radiation applied to polymer processes

International audienceThe infrared heating of polymers is often a crucial step during polymer processing, because radiative heat transfer can be very efficient in comparison to conductive or convective heat transfer. This chapter presents the basic concepts dealing with radiative properties and more particularly infrared. Then, the main radiative properties both for emitters and polymers are measured and analyzed. In addition, different methods to determine relevant parameters, such as filament lamp temperatures, are detailed. The chapter describes the development of accurate surface-temperature measurements using an infrared camera. This powerful non-contact measurement device can also be applied for estimating heat transfer coefficients as well as anisotropic thermal conductivities of composites. The chapter also presents the infrared heating modeling of polymer preforms, typically used in the stretch blow molding process. For radiation modeling, the Beer-Lambert law together with the ray tracing method is well adapted to simulate heating of semi-transparent polymer