Chapter 15: Study Guide and Self-Assessment
This chapter is largely descriptive, dealing with the processing methods used to shape or form polymeric materials into final products, like plastic buckets or pipes. Polymer processing is a large and complex subject in its own right and the purpose of this chapter is give you a feel for the subject and the principal types of processing methods used to produce various kinds of polymer products.
Objectives
Upon successfully completing this chapter you should:
- Understand how the process of extrusion works and how single screw and twin screw extrusion differ in operation and application.
- Be able to describe the nature and origin of phenomena like jet swelling, melt fracture and die drool.
- Have a broad knowledge of the types of products produced by extrusion (e.g., blown film, pipes) and its use as the front-end” of other processing methods.
- Be able to describe the main features of injection molding equipment and the types of products it is used to form.
- Have a broad knowledge of how the injection molding process can be varied for different applications.
- Understand the main features of blow molding and how it can be used to make plastic bottles.
- Be able to describe the main features of compression molding and the types of products it is used to make.
- Be able to describe the main features of thermoforming and other molding processes.
Self-Assessment Questions