1. Polymers shrink due to thermal expansion/contraction and reorganization of their structure when cooled. Semi-crystalline polymers shrink more than amorphous polymers.
2. Polymer orientation can cause further shrinkage, resulting in distortion of extruded parts.
3. Processors must recognize the effects of unbalanced orientation and make die adjustments to minimize variation and create usable parts without additional steps.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the issue of polymer shrinkage and orientation during extrusion processes. The article is well-researched, providing detailed explanations for why polymers shrink, how they are affected by orientation, and how processors can adjust for these effects. The article also includes helpful illustrations to demonstrate the concepts discussed in the text.
The article does not appear to be biased or one-sided in its reporting; it presents both sides of the issue fairly and objectively, exploring both the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to dealing with polymer shrinkage and orientation during extrusion processes. It also does not appear to contain any promotional content or partiality towards any particular approach or product related to this topic.
The article does an adequate job of noting potential risks associated with certain approaches; for example, it mentions that cooling quickly by quenching can result in some oriented structure being retained which could lead to distortion when subjected to heat afterward. However, it could have done a better job of exploring counterarguments or other possible risks associated with different approaches; for example, it does not mention any potential risks associated with secondary annealing processes which could be used to reduce molecular mobility in order to eliminate all orientation in an extruded part.
In conclusion, this article is generally reliable and trustworthy; however, it could have done a better job of exploring counterarguments or other possible risks associated with different approaches related to polymer shrinkage and orientation during extrusion processes.