Current trends in the analysis of polymer shaping operations

Polymer processing, in its most general context, involves the transformation of a solid (sometimes liquid) polymeric resin, which is in a random form (e.g. powder, pellets, beads), to a solid plastics product of specified shape, dimensions, and properties. This is achieved by means of a transformation process: extrusion, molding, calendering, coating, thermoforming, etc. The process, as demonstrated in Figure 1, in order to achieve the above objective, usually involves the following operations: solid transport, compression, heating, melting, mixing, shaping, cooling, solidification, and finishing. Obviously, these operations do not necessarily occur in sequence, and many of them take place simultaneously.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye