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Purpose & Overview
This is an intensive introduction to the science and technology of multi-layer coextrusion. The course will cover the reasons for using coextrusion as compared to alternative technologies for producing multi-polymer combinations. The methods used in selecting polymers for coextruded product designs will be examined and polymer properties for sealant layers, barrier layers and combining incompatible materials will be reviewed. An in-depth discussion of equipment selection, design considerations and material flow properties will be reviewed to insure the design of robust coextrusion systems. Methods to characterize existing equipment and materials will be reviewed to allow the determination of process ranges and effective troubleshooting of coextrusion instabilities and defects. Equipment design principles will be covered to permit better vender interaction in equipment selection, design and process control.

Who should attend?
Process and product development scientists and manufacturing engineers needing an intensive introduction to coextrusion principles for effective process design, specification, control and troubleshooting.

Seminar Content

Production of Multi Layer Products

• Barrier products
• Sealable structures
• Optical properties
• Surface chemistry control

Polymer Rheology Review

• Viscosity and flow in circular pipes
• Flow in dies
• Instabilities

Flow of Layered Melts

• Melt combination
• Interfacial instability
• Polymer /metal interactions
• Polymer / polymer interactions

Methods of Melt Combination

• Feed block
• Multi cavity dies
• Melt curtain joining

Performance Characterization of Co-extrusion Systems

• Basic measurements
• Key polymer characteristics
• Determining the window of stability
• Layer uniformity measurements

Design Principles of Co-extrusion Systems

• Rheological specification
• Layer uniformity
• Flow stability
• Mechanical stability of die

Troubleshooting Coextrusion Problems

Dr. Eldridge M. Mount III
Dr. Mount is an independent Consultant to the films and polymer processing industry in polymer extrusion, coextrusion, and film converting. His career in Plastics began in the summer of 1970, as a summer engineer at GE, working with Epoxy/glass filament winding and then at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute to perform an experimental and theoretical study of the melting and extrusion behavior of solid polymers to earn his advanced degrees. From 1978 to 2000 he has worked for ICI Americas and Mobil Chemical Films Division in the area of extrusion, coextrusion and film orientation technology and lead the exploratory product development for BOPP packaging films. He has presented ANTEC papers in the areas of extrusion and coextrusion of films. An SPE member since 1975, and a Fellow of SPE, Eldridge is an Executive Committee Member and a member of the Extrusion Division Board of Directors since 1981. He is also the AIMCAL Metallizing consultant and currently; holds 8 US and two European Patents in the field of coextruded PP films.