Abstract
For the optimization of the screw and extrusion process design one need to address issues such the interdependence between the geometrical, hydrodynamic, thermal parameters and material behaviour in each screw zone along with the correlations between successive screw zones. For that purpose, the process parameters (material temperature, barrel temperature, screw speed, pressure development in the screw channel), the screw geometry (flat and compression zones) and the matter behaviour (tribological, thermal and rheological) as a function of temperature and pressure were analyzed. The interdependence between the screw design and the extrusion process parameters from a practical point of view, with the aim of designing the most suitable screw with optimal process parameters for a given processed material, was established. Keywords: extrusion; screw design; optimization; process parameters