Instrumentation is one of the most essential elements of an extruder. It is necessary to measure important process parameters to know what is going on in the extruder and to be able to control the process. Clearly, if the plastic melt temperature is not measured, it is impossible to control it. One reason that instrumentation is so important is that it is generally not possible to observe what happens inside an extruder. Without instrumentation on the extruder, we would be almost completely ignorant as to its inner workings.
In this chapter we will discuss the main types of plastics and the flow and thermal properties important in the extrusion process. Knowing these properties helps you select appropriate machines for the extrusion of plastic, set correct processing conditions, and analyze extrusion problems.
In a plasticating extruder a number of tasks are performed, each one of which is critical to the proper functioning of the extruder. These tasks or functions are:
In this chapter we will discuss how to run an extruder. There are three steps to running an extruder: preparation of the machine, actual operation, and shutdown.
In this chapter we will discuss troubleshooting extrusion problems, including important prerequisites to efficient problem solving, a systematic step-by-step approach to troubleshooting, and how to identify specific extrusion problems.
As global competition intensifies, processors are under increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of their extrusion operations. This can be done by raising throughput, by increasing automation, and by developing and adopting intelligent manufacturing methods and operating procedures.
