| Abstract: | To understand the performance of multicomponent reactions in twin screw extruders the mixing mechanism in the extruder had to be understood. Therefore, two new relevant mixing parameters are defined; the mixing efficiency, which is the average number of passages of material through a high shear region; and the mixing deficiency, which is the fraction of material that does not pass through a high shear region. With these parameters an analysis can be made of the mixing circumstances in the extruder. The new model was applied to the polymerization of urethanes in a counter-rotating twin screw extruder. The results agreed very well with the theoretical expectations. |
