Exploring Plastics Extrusion

Course Content

• Densification, Mixing, Compounding, Reinforcement, Reactive Processing, or the production of a particular shape.
• Extrusion Theory - Feeding, Melting, and Pumping processes in single and twin screw machines, and the energy balance of the process.
• Rheology- its influence on the extrusion process.
• Extrusion Design - Aspects of design, choice and purchase of equipment.
• Twin Screw Extrusion - Different types of twin screw, their uses and compounding optimisation
• Mixing - Various mixing techniques exist, add on mixing heads, barrier screws and modular kneading elements.
• Scale-up - Sizing of a machine from laboratory trials, scale-up, and choice of equipment.
• Downstream- Compound, pipe, film, sheet, cable sheathing, profiles.
• Trouble shooting - Fault finding, practical solutions to common problems, i.e. probable causes of surging, melt fracture, etc., difficulties encountered in handling rework
• Materials, feeding systems,etc.
• Practical Demonstration Practical demonstrations will be used to illustrate aspects of the course.

Attendees will learn:

• The Basic Extrusion Process - What are we aiming to achieve?
• The various elements of the extrusion process
• The theory behind feeding, melting and pumping
• Critical aspects of design, choice and purchase of equipment
• The essential differences between single and twin screw extrusion
• Important elements of mixing in theory and practice
• How to scale up both single and twin screw extrusion processes
• How different end products are produced
• An approach to trouble shooting with solutions to common problems