processing tips

Materials Know How 23 Jan 2018

A Processor’s Most Important Job, Part 2: Crystallinity

Process conditions help determine the difference between the maximum degree of crystallinity that can be achieved in a polymer and the degree that is present in a molded part.

Heating & Cooling 2 Jan 2018

Air-Ring Upgrade Pumps Up the Output

Film processor Dallas Plastics boosts throughput by as much as 40% by retrofitting a new air ring—without the need for IBC.

Drying 2 Jan 2018

Why Drying Polyolefins Might Be Right for Your Process

From a technical standpoint, drying non-hygroscopic materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene may not be necessary. However, doing so may be advantageous to your process. Here are details.

processing tips 2 Jan 2018

Determining Vent Depths in Injection Molding

Experiments reveal the relationship between vent depths and part thickness, allowing molders and moldmakers to more precisely determine vent dimensions.

Materials Know How 2 Jan 2018

A Processor’s Most Important Job, Part 1: Molecular Weight

Many processors don’t realize that preserving material characteristics is crucial to product success and failure. The focus here is on molecular weight.

processing tips 1 Dec 2017

What You Can Learn From Pharma Compounders

Twin-screw extrusion has been a standard in plastics compounding for decades but has only recently been embraced by the pharmaceutical industry. Here’s what plastics compounders might learn from the ‘newbies’ to help make a better, more consistent product.

processing tips 1 Dec 2017

Extrusion: How Hopper Crammers Can Help Feeding

A crammer can assist the flow of certain polymers into the extruder. But the design is not universal and very material dependent. Here’s what you need to know.

Tooling Know-How 1 Dec 2017

Injection Molding: New Mold Trial—Will It Run 24/7?

Use this nine-step process to make sure you’ll be making good parts after a successful trial. But even then, be prepared for some hiccups.

scientific molding 1 Dec 2017

Materials: Cycle Time—Science vs. Rules of Thumb, Part 6

This installment—on elastomers—completes a series, whose theme is to bring more science to the discipline of molding. The overall message: Ask a lot of questions whenever someone posits this or that ‘rule of thumb’ about processing.