This comprehensive handbook provides a simplified, practical and innovative approach to understanding the design and manufacture of plastic products. It will expand the reader's understanding of plastics technology by defining and focusing on past, current, and future technical trends. Published in 4 volumes, the content is presented so that both technical and non-technical readers can understand the interrelationships of materials to processes. Different plastic products are examined and their related critical factors are shown, from meeting performance requirements in different environments, to reducing costs and targeting for zero defects. Examples used include small to large, and simple to complex shapes. Information is included on static properties (tensile, flexural), dynamic properties (creep, fatigue, impact) and physical and chemical properties. Extensive reference sources and useful data and physical and chemical constants are also provided. Volume 1 sets out the basic principles of polymers, what they are and how plastics are formulated, processed, and manufactured.