ABSTRACT
An extruder is a standard piece of equipment used in rubber and plastic processing for such operations as injection and blow molding, for processing thermosetting resins, and for the hybrid process of injection blow molding. In the case of polypropylene, degradation of the polymer can have a significant effect on the extrusion process. Ethylene–propylene (E-P) elastomers have been used widely in extruded parts for over a quarter of a century. This is principally due to the recognized ease of processability of E-P compounds in extrusion operations and the broad range of physical properties that are obtained to satisfy the myriad of applications. In the extrusion process, narrow distribution grades tend to have higher throughput rates and extrudates are usually smoother. In designing extrusion products and/or assessing different polymers in new or different extrusion applications formulas, the ability to project small-scale processing tests to commercial extrusion is essential.
