Energy conservation in plastics processing: A review

The rapid recent growth in the relative importance of energy costs has directed the attention of machine manufacturers and processors to more energy-efficient designs and methods of operation. This paper reviews reports of advances in this field. The energy flows associated with the principal processes used in the plastics industry are enumerated, and the problem of defining a meaningful efficiency is addressed. Specific attention is given to recent advances in the areas of extrusion, injection-molding, and heat recovery. A method for energy analysis based on the second, law of thermodynamics is described.