MOST IMPORTANT PROCESS PARAMETERS FOR PLASTIC EXTRUSION
The most important process parameters are melt pressure and melt temperature. They are generally the best indicators of how well or how poorly an extruder functions. Process problems, in most cases, first become obvious from melt pressure and/or temperature readings. Just as a doctor first measures blood pressure and temperature of a patient, a process engineer should measure melt pressure and temperature of an extruder to obtain the most telling (revealing) information from the process.
Other important process parameters are:
• Screw speed
• Motor load
• Barrel temperatures
• Die temperatures
• Power draw of the various heaters
• Cooling rate of the various cooling units
• Vacuum level in vented extrusion
These parameters relate just to the extruder. However, there are many more process parameters for the entire extrusion line depending on the design of the extrusion line.
Important parameters for any extrusion line are:
• Line speed
• Dimensions of the extruded product
• Cooling rate or cooling water temperature
• Line tension