Polyethylene Extrusion Coating and Film Lamination: The Complete Process Manual

This book offers a detailed evaluation of extrusion coating, coextrusion and film lamination processes based on polyethylenes for the production of flexible materials used in food, medical and other demanding applications. The study provides a comprehensive insight to extrusion coaters, laminators and converters of the various options that are available to produce tailor-made products and how to exploit the available fabrication technologies. For the demanding process of extrusion coating this study focuses on aspects of extruder and die design, chill roll cooling and the critical optimization of adhesion to all substrates and films. Coextrusion processes are comprehensively evaluated with the emphasis on melt stability, layer distribution, interlayer adhesion and physical properties. The complementary lamination process offers the fabricator practical and detailed information on how to select, prepare and formulate films to maximize synergies. The wide palette of polymers, films, foils and pulp and paper products available are reviewed. All the adhesive materials and adhesion promotion methods are compared and will be of invaluable benefit to engineers and technologists working in this industry.