Patent ID: 7980839

Claim:
An apparatus for ram extruding an UHMWPE panel of uniform thickness with a width greater than 0.4 m, the apparatus comprising: a) a slit die having a top portion and a bottom portion defining a slit therebetween, a panel exit slit on an exit face thereof, and a ram entrance slit on an inlet face thereof, the slit having a width greater than 0.4 m, the width corresponding to the width of the UHMWPE panel; b) a UHMWPE powder supply passage communicating with the slit of the slit die proximate the entrance slit thereof and containing UHMWPE powder; c) a ram having a tongue shaped so as to enter the entrance slit of the slit die; d) a plurality of independently adjustable transverse cooling zones positioned across the width of both the top portion and bottom portion of the slit die proximate the exit slit thereof; e) at least one heating zone positioned between the entrance slit and the transverse cooling zones; and f) a back pressure device located downstream from the exit slit in the machine direction, which restrains movement of an extruded panel away from the slit die, wherein the apparatus is used for ram extrusion of UHMWPE.