The use of computers to numerically analyse polymer processing was first reported as for back as the 1950s, and the first commercial software became available around 20 years ago. Much research has been carried out since that time, and this Rapra Review Report aims to summarise contemporary trends in both commercial and academic research and development. The principles of conservation equations, viscous and viscoelastic flow and phase transitions are explained, and the numerical techniques employed in their modelling are described. The theory is then applied to the major plastics processing technologies.

Whilst the greatest proportion of research has been carried out on the various stage of the injection moulding process work is also reported on compression moulding, fibre orientation, reaction injection moulding, resin transfer moulding, transfer moulding, rotational moulding, extrusion, wire coating, mixing, casting, blow moulding, thermoforming, film blowing, calendering, melt spinning and drawing.

Some 494 references and abstracts of international literature selected from the Polymer Library provide further theory and data.