Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.38, No.4, 662-673, 1998
The influence of extrusion parameters on the mechanical properties of polypropylene sheet
Extruded thermoplastic sheet is widely used in the production of thin-gauge tubs and containers for the food and beverage industry using the thermoforming process. The production of high quality thermoformed parts is critically dependent on the standard of extruded sheet feedstock used. The extrusion process itself imparts a thermal history to the sheet, and this in turn partly dictates its subsequent thermoformability. This paper assesses the influence of various extrusion parameters on the mechanical and morphological properties of polypropylene sheet, with a view to defining the optimum extrusion conditions for polypropylene. The extrusion parameters under consideration are chill-roll temperature, line speed, sheet thickness and melt temperature.