EXPERIMENTAL-ANALYSIS OF THE KNEADING DISK REGION IN A CO-ROTATING TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDER .1. FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KNEADING DISK REGION

Co-rotating twin screw extruders are extensively used in polymer compo unding. In co-rotating twin screw extruders, the kneading disk region is the most influential for compounding efficiency. However, only a fe w studies have so far been made for the flow analysis of the kneading disk region. This may be due to the fact that phenomena relating to kn eading are overly complicated. In this study, the flow in the kneading disk region was investigated using a closed-type co-rotating twin scr ew single-staged mixer. We measured torque, pressure, and resin temper ature under various compounding conditions of polypropylene. It was fo und that the flow characteristics obtained were identical with those m easured using a capillary rehometer. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.