Dean Elliott, lab manager at ENTEK Extruders, appeared as a featured speaker at the first annual AMI Compounding World Forum in Philadelphia, PA.  The forum took place from December 10-11, 2013 and featured 21 presentations from speakers hand selected by Compounding World’s editorial team. Thirty-seven exhibitors were in attendance with representatives from over 50 compounding companies there for the event.

Dean’s presentation, titled “Extrusion of Polymers and Fillers Derived From Plants,” primarily focused on how to optimize a co-rotating twin-screw extruder line for the processing of bio-plastics and natural fiber plastic composites (FPC’s). He did this through an explanation of five main extrusion processing limitations, temperature, power, volume, moisture, and pressure, and how they relate to biopolymers and natural fibers. Dean then went through each limitation individually and discussed different strategies for how to optimize the extruder’s ability to cope with them.

“It was exciting for me to be given the opportunity to speak at what was such a successful event,” said Elliot.  “Overall, I think it went great and I know the organizers were very pleased with the turnout.”