Raw materials, processing technologies and properties: the language of the plastics industry
Course number: PLAS-INT-2004
Which technology suits which product? What does a value in a technical data sheet really tell you? Why can two raw materials with the same melt flow rate behave differently in the die? This course explains 100 key terms of plastics processing in a way you can use directly in daily production work and in conversations with customers and suppliers.
Every term is explained in three steps: a short definition, what it means in production and what is worth checking. The 100 terms are grouped into four modules of 25 terms, each divided into five topics.
Who is this course for?
- Machine operators and process technicians
- Quality control and laboratory staff
- Production managers and shift leaders
- Sales staff, buyers and technical advisors
- Product designers working with plastic parts
Course structure
- Module 1: Introduction, how to use the glossary and the list of terms
- Module 2: Basic concepts and technologies in plastics processing (terms 1–25)
- Module 3: Plastics processing machines and equipment (terms 26–50)
- Module 4: Properties of plastics and their impact on processing (terms 51–75)
- Module 5: Advanced technologies, quality control and applications of plastics (terms 76–100)
- Module 6: Summary, final test and certificate
What you will learn
- Distinguish the main types of plastics and processing technologies and use the correct terms.
- Read technical data sheets: melt flow rate, density, melting and glass transition temperature, mechanical and barrier properties, always together with the test conditions.
- Understand the role of the extruder, screw, die, melt filtration, dryers, cooling and winders.
- Recognise which properties determine the durability of a product and the performance of packaging.
- Understand the test methods used in quality control, such as FTIR, gas chromatography, mechanical, ageing and flammability tests.
See the full list of 100 terms
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Course author: Dr Magdalena Laabs, President of Rolbatch Engineering GmbH and founder of Rolbatch Academy.
Certificates of participation and diplomas from Rolbatch Academy
30-day access to the online course
Online course format
Access: 30 days, learning at your own pace.
Certificate of participation and diplomas: yes.
Languages: German, English, Polish, Spanish; other languages on request. Contact us to check whether the course is available in your language.
Price: the price is net. 19% VAT is added at checkout.
Are you eligible for a 0% VAT invoice? Contact us before purchasing, using the Contact form on our website.
Schedule and organisation
Regular online courses: start every 2–3 weeks.
On-demand courses: for groups of 6 or more, we can arrange any date and adapt the language.
Write to us to make sure the course is available in your language. If it is, you will receive access within 24 hours on business days. If it is not, we will let you know when the language version is ready.
Request pricing and schedule
To receive a personalised quote, let us know the number of participants and your preferred start date.
On-demand organisation for individuals and teams
Our online courses can also be organised on demand, both for one person and for a whole team. If you are an individual participant, send us an inquiry and we will inform you of the nearest available date for this or a similar course.
We can also prepare the course in your native language. The price depends on the number of participants; larger groups receive more favourable terms.
When sending an inquiry, please provide:
- the number of participants,
- your preferred start date,
- the language of the course,
- any questions you would like us to address in the course.
FAQ
Answers to the most common questions: FAQ