Participants will gain an appreciation of the whole extrusion process enabling them to optimize their processes, troubleshoot and avoid problems. 

Please note: This course will concentrate on the single screw extrusion process, both within the extruder and downstream. Areas such as compounding (single and twin screw) rheology; pipe extrusion, film; sheet; cable and PVC profiles will be addressed in short modules.

Attendance on this course can also contribute credits towards an MSc in Polymer Engineering Design.

Who Will Benefit?

Production and process managers and engineers

Course objectives and learning outcomes:

As a result of attending this course delegates will be able to:

• Identify the most common faults to be found in extrusion
• Design improved laboratory (R&D) projects with a view to scaling up to production
• Understand why different polymers perform differently during extrusion.
• Make informed choices when purchasing equipment

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

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.

Course Presenters

Jon Lea- Consultant, Smithers Rapra, Colin Chilles, Process Technologist, Smithers Rapra, Mat Cox, Process Technologist, Smithers Rapra

Course Fee: £550.00 plus VAT for 2 day course, includes lecture notes, lunches and refreshments.

Discounts given for multiple registrations:
10% discount for 2 delegates registering
15% discount for 3 or more delegates registering

Find out more about reducing energy consumption in plastics engineering at

www.eurecipe.com.