POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF TRACERS IN EXTRUSION - 2.

This paper is a continuation of evaluating tracer techniques and tracer materials that have been used in the extrusion and in other aspects of polymer extrusion. Analysis is made upon such potential uses by examining some of the needs in the extrusion field, with further details on neutron activation analysis and product pattern recognition. The subject is discussed under headings - status of overall tracer techniques; status of tracer techniques in extrusion; neutron activation tracers; axial dispersion flow by tracers; NNA in pattern recognition by polymer products. It is concluded that rapid advances are occurring in tracers, analytical and instrumental analysis, and computer techniques in fields ranging from biology and medicine to pollutants and criminology. It is contended that tracers have not been utilized to full advantage in extrusion per se, mixing, dispersion, feedstock characterization, product characterization, processing systems, fabrication systems, and finally, the tagging and identification of end products in end uses. It should be possible to modify tracer, analytical methods and computer techniques of other fields to whatever degree desired or justified for use in extrusion field.