This paper reports experimental observations and numerical simulations relating to sharkskin extrusion instabilities for two different types of polyethylene, a metallocene high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Experimental results are presented for both the effect of die exit curvature and die surface roughness for slit die geometry. Matching polyflow numerical simulations are also reported and are shown to be qualitatively consistent with experimental observations. The onset of the sharkskin instability is correlated with the magnitude of the stress concentration at the die exit, and is found to be sensitive to both the melt/wall separation point for a curved exit die, and the level of partial slip at the die wall. Additional observations on the effect of a fluoropolymer additive also support the sensitivity of the sharkskin instability to partial slip at the wall. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.