processing tips

best practices

Keep Dust and Angel Hair Out of Your Process

Angel hair, fines, and dust can adversely impact any type of plastics production—from resin manufacturing itself to molding and other processes. Here’s how to solve it. 

Read More
best practices

Polyolefin Discoloration: New Additive Solutions Solve Common Problems

There’s a growing demand for PE films with lower initial color and improved color stability, as well as better retention of physical properties. New stabilizer systems address these and similar concerns for molded PE and PP parts.

Read More
Elastomers

Materials: Cycle Time: Science vs. Rules of Thumb—Part 2

Understanding cooling—how a given material develops modulus as it solidifies—requires access to data that provides some insight into the relationship between modulus and temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis is a helpful tool.

Read More
best practices

Understanding Low-Rate Feeding for Continuous and Batch Processes

Molders and extruders that need to feed tiny amounts of material to their process require precision in both the material being fed and the equipment doing the dosing. When a shot size consists of three pellets, there is no margin for error.

Read More

How to Collect and Interpret Extrusion Process Data; Part 3

In this final installment, learn how process data can be used to identify and fix extrusion issues.

Read More

Extrusion Cooling: It’s All About Turbulence

Regardless of what you are extruding, in order to maximize cooling you need to generate turbulence at the heat-exchange surface.

Read More
processing tips

Injection Molding: Are You Using More Than 65% Of Your Barrel Capacity?

If you are, you are inviting Murphy—as in trouble—to the party.

Read More

How to Solve Common Ultrasonic Welding Problems

Understand and address the likely origins of welding problems to keep production on track.

Read More
dies

Sharper Dies Make for Smoother Extrusions

Dies that have a radius at the exit will result in poorer surface finish.

Read More
processing tips

Clamp Tonnage: More Is Better...Right?

Determining the correct tonnage provides a foundation that must be rock-solid to avoid flash and damage. But applying excessive force can create problems with the part, mold, and machine.

Read More
Plastics Size Reduction
Blending & Dosing