Basic Operation The basic operation of a single screw extruder is rather straightforward. Material enters from the feed hopper. Generally, the feed material flows by gravity from the feed hopper down into the extruder barrel. Some materials do not flow easily in dry form and special measures have to be taken to prevent hang-up (bridging) of the material in the feed hopper. As material falls down into the extruder barrel, it is situated in the annular space between the extruder screw and barrel, and is further bounded by the passive and active flanks of the screw flight: the screw channel. The barrel is stationary and the screw is rotating. As a result, frictional forces will act on the material, both on the barrel as well as on the screw surface. These fric- tional forces are responsible for the forward transport of the material, as long as the mate- rial is in the solid state (below its melting point).