The polyethylene industry has been in the midst of major restructuring and rationalization. This has lead to joint ventures and alliances to combine technologies and exploit opportunities to maximize improvements in process productivity, catalyst innovations, and enhancements in extrusion technology and converting.This comprehensive study of the polyethylene film extrusion process describes this technology in detail. In depth descriptions of the manufacturing processes for polyethylene homopolymers and copolymers, including metallocenes, are reviewed. All aspects of machine design with particular emphasis on screws and dies including coextrusion are discussed comprehensively. With computer modeling, the interactions between equipment and polymer are quantified.
All aspects of equipment design and polymer features that control melt fracture, interfacial instabilities, gauge control, output and temperature, and cooling of blown and cast film processes are presented quantitatively. This methodology will highlight solutions in troubleshooting for optimum design and operation and the best available polymer and formulation choices.
All polyethylene film applications in packaging, agriculture, lamination, and construction, consumer, industrial, and health care are reviewed and discussed in depth.