Purpose & Overview
The first part of this seminar explains the fundamentals of extrusion, but also includes advanced concepts such as elongational compounding, elongational melting, and degassing over mixers. Comparisons are made showing wood fillers, nano-particulate distribution, mixing in different screws, and other real-world examples; the second part of the seminar describes the major downstream dies and systems — such as film, sheet, tubing/pipe, profiles, and coextrusion. The graphics mix conceptual “One Thought At A Time" with equipment and samples. Attendees typically pepper the instructor with real-world questions while he maintains a light atmosphere.

Who Should Attend
This class is designed for those people who are thrust into extrusion without any formal training. This qualitative (nonmathematical) course is ideal for chemists, managers, technicians, scientists, operators, compounders, and forepersons—for those whose primary background is not extrusion.

Instructor: Keith Luker - Biography

Seminar Content
The Extruder • Transportation of polymer in the screw • The effect of pellet geometry on transportation • How the screw is a balancing act between its parts • The sources of energy within the extruder and how this changes from small to large extruders • How melt separation screws work • How shear and elongational mixing sections work • The problems associated with each part of the screw and what can be done about them • Safety aspects of the single-screw extruder

Beyond the Basic Single-Screw Extruder • Elongational mixing elements • How gear pumps work and what they do • Filtering the melt stream, including screening, filtering and screen changers • What static and active mixers do and what kinds are available • The principles of devolatilization • The twin-screw extruder and other interesting devices

Dies and Downstream Equipment • Pelletizing, tubing/pipe, blown film, cast film, sheet, profiles, and coextrusion are reviewed, starting with each major type of die used in the system, and then each aspect of the downstream cooling and take-off is surveyed.

Seminar Fees	Before 2/15/08	After 2/15/08	Nonmember
SPE Member	$675	$775	$925

All forms of registration must contain payment, either by credit card or check, otherwise the registration will not be processed. Checks should be made payable to SPE Seminars in U.S. funds.

Use a separate registration form for each attendee.

If you do not receive a confirmation for the seminar prior to attending, please e-mail seminars@4spe.org or call SPE at +1 203-740-5403 to verify your registration.