Polymers Center

Our UNC Charlotte engineering students are hard at work on their Senior Design Project of the PCE Grind, developing a functional prototype of a mid-sized polymer grinder designed to process 5–20 lbs of material. Their goal? Transform plastic chunks and pellets into a fine, sand-like powder—opening the door to new possibilities in material reuse, processing, and product development. With the support of the Polymers Center Team, President Doug DeSimone and Polymer Science Manager, Yiro Shimabukuro, we can finally see the prototype come to life. Stay tuned for their final presentation!

The SPE Extrusion Optimization TopCon, hosted by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division, is a great opportunity to learn, connect, and problem-solve with experts across the industry.

Bring your challenges to the table and engage directly with the SPE Extrusion Board, academic leaders, experienced speakers, and industry peers. From troubleshooting day-to-day issues to exploring advanced extrusion theory for single- and twin-screw systems, the conversations here are built around real-world impact.
For more information and to register: https://speextrusiontopcon.technical-content.com/