Polymer Processing Techniques

This lecture covers the processing techniques of amorphous and semicrystalline thermoplastic materials, focusing on extrusion and injection-based methods. It explains the operation principles of extrusion, the main categories of extrusion products, the polymer state in the barrel, flow instabilities, and the importance of the extruder screw and die. Additionally, it delves into extrusion blow molding, injection molding, and the manufacture of PET bottles. The lecture also discusses the filling and solidification process in the mold, the effect of pressure and shrinkage, and the design considerations for molds. Other processing techniques like thermoforming, rotational molding, calendering, fiber spinning, and 3D printing are also briefly introduced.