Flow Induced Coating of Polymer Processing Additives: Development of Frustrated Total Internal Reflection Imaging

Published

May 1, 2003

Author(s)

S B. Kharchenko, Kalman D. Migler, P M. McGuiggan

Abstract

In the extrusion of polyethylene (PE), fluoropolymer-processing additives (PPA) are used to eliminate the surface defect known as sharkskin by coating the die wall and inducing slip at the PPA/PE interface. We describe a method to carry out in situ measurements of the coating kinetics that is based on the optical phenomenon of frustrated total internal reflection (F-TIR). The estimated coating thickness is found to be significantly lower (60-350 nm) than reported previously (5-15 mm). The coating mechanism is proposed to have origins at the die entrance.

Proceedings Title

Special Areas Society of Plastic Engineers, Annual Technical Conference | 61st | Special Areas | SPE

Volume

61

Issue

No. 1

Conference Dates

May 1, 2003

Conference Title

ANTEC Conference Proceedings

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

capillary, coating, extrusion, fluorelastomer, kinetics, polyethylene, reflectivity, rheology, sharkskin

Citation

Kharchenko, S. , Migler, K. and McGuiggan, P. (2003), Flow Induced Coating of Polymer Processing Additives: Development of Frustrated Total Internal Reflection Imaging, Special Areas Society of Plastic Engineers, Annual Technical Conference | 61st | Special Areas | SPE, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=852153 (Accessed October 14, 2025)