Processability - What Does if Really Mean to the Blown Film Extruder?, 2001 Polymers Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Roger D. Kamla--Many of the papers presented at conferences such as this focus on film property performance of new resins. Extrusion processing comparisons are usually subordinated to a lesser role - many times just a table or a paragraph on amps and pressure. While many of these new resins do indeed provide attractive film performance benefits, there can also be extrusion processing issues associated with them. These problems or complaints involving extrusion processing in the marketplace are then frequently described as those dealing with “poor processability.” This is a very ambiguous term and can certainly cover a lot more than just amperage or pressure problems. Sound problem solving in our hectic workplaces requires us to first properly define the problem before frantically “shotgunning” all kinds of possible solutions. Listening to your customer and asking them the right questions, using extruder microprocessor-generated data, are essential in the critical first step of resolving “processability” problems.