2. Polymer melting in the extruder

2.1 Polymer melting

Filament melting is a key step in the process. It must allow the polymer to extrude through the nozzle and ensure that the strands have a controlled morphology. The temperature to which the polymer is heated is therefore an important parameter. It must not be too high to avoid degradation of the polymer and the extruder's thermal resistance. On the other hand, it must be sufficient to ensure complete melting of the filament and minimize pressure drop in the nozzle. Polymer entrainment must be guaranteed on a material that is still in a solid state. Devices such as those developed by E3D, which equip a number of printers, have been designed for this purpose. Figure 2...