Dynamic behavior of a single screw plasticating extruder part I: Experimental study

The dynamic responses of a 2–1/2 inch single screw plasticating extruder and extrusion line were investigated. Step changes in screw speed, take-up speed, back pressure, and processing materials were used to determine the transient responses of barrel pressures, die pressure, melt temperature, and extrudate thickness. Dynamic responses of the entire extrusion line can be explained by the flow mechanism of the extruder and the logical properties of the polymer used. A capillary rheometer was also used to determine if it could simulate pressure responses in the extruder for screw speed changes. Results showed that capillary rheometer was helpful in estimating the short term pressure responses in the die.     

Increasing the efficiency of the extrusion process

The article presents constructional methods of increasing the efficiency of the polymer extrusion process. Increasing the efficiency of the polymer extrusion process consists in the increase of the flow rate of the processed polymer and the energy efficiency of polymer processing extruders and the decrease of the specific energy consumption and the pulsation of the flow rate and polymer pressure, as well as quality improvement of the received extrudate as a result of better homogenization of mechanical and thermal properties and polymer structure. Therefore, the improvement of the constructional solution of the screw and barrel of the extruder plasticating system was discussed. The improvement of the construction of the screw lies in using the active and passive grooved barrel section. Original constructional solutions of the active grooved section with both longitudinal and helical grooves were shown. The devices increasing the efficiency of the extrusion were also shown, which included a screen changer, a melt pump, and a static mixer. Appropriate conclusions were drawn. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effect of melt viscosity on thermal efficiency for single screw extrusion of HDPE

In this work, a highly instrumented single screw extruder has been used to study the effect of polymer rheology on the thermal efficiency of the extrusion process. Three different molecular weight grades of high density polyethylene (HDPE) were extruded at a range of conditions. Three geometries of extruder screws were used at several set temperatures and screw rotation speeds. The extruder was equipped with real-time quantification of energy consumption; thermal dynamics of the process were examined using thermocouple grid sensors at the entrance to the die. Results showed that polymer rheology had a significant effect on process energy consumption and thermal homogeneity of the melt. Highest specific energy consumption and poorest homogeneity was observed for the highest viscosity grade of HDPE. Extruder screw geometry, set extrusion temperature and screw rotation speed were also found to have a direct effect on energy consumption and melt consistency. In particular, specific energy consumption was lower using a barrier flighted screw compared to single flighted screws at the same set conditions. These results highlight the complex nature of extrusion thermal dynamics and provide evidence that rheological properties of the polymer can significantly influence the thermal efficiency of the process.     

A study of degradation of high density polyethylene in a corotating intermeshing twin screw extruder

A study of the effect of extrusion conditions on the degradation of high density polyethylene was carried out. The extent of degradation was quantified by dynamic viscometry. The effect of barrel temperature profile, screw speed, and feed rate on the degradation of high density polyethylene was determined. The viscosity response of high density polyethylene is complex with respect to extrusion conditions. Residence time studies were carried out to correlate the viscosity data. Simulations of simple theoretical models give an insight into the flow behavior of the polymer in a twin screw extruder.     

Single screw extrusion characteristics of a semirigid PVC

Poly(vinyl chloride) compounds offer a wide range of properties from elastomeric to rigid. For this reason they are well suited for many extrusion applications. However, many processors shy away from PVC because of its challenging process-ability: PVC is shear sensitive, susceptible to thermal degradation, and highly elastoviscous. This study, although limited, attempts to remove some of the complexity behind PVC extrusion. A semirigid PVC compound was processed on a small laboratory extruder. A factorial experiment was followed to determine the effects of barrel temperature and screw speed on melt temperature, residence time, output, and head pressure. Understanding these fundamental relationships is intrinsic to successful PVC extrusion.     

The effect of the feed section groove taper angle on the performance of a single‐screw extruder

A new mechanism is described that allows adjustment of the groove geometry in grooved feed extruders. This mechanism enables efficient, continuous and independent change of the groove geometry during the extrusion process. The patented solution of the activated grooved feed section enables one to change the number of grooves, taper angle and, connected with it, groove depth. The paper contains the graphical presentation of the selected results of experimental studies of autothermal extrusion of a medium density polyethylene in an extruder with the grooved feed section in which the groove taper angle, and thus groove depth, was changed during the extrusion process. The influence of changing the groove taper angle in the range from 0 to 5.236 × 10^?2 rad and screw speeds ranging from 177 to 279 rev/min on extruder output was studied. The energy efficiency of the extruder was studied as well.     

Predicting the effect of screw wear on the performance of plasticating extruders

The effect of screw wear on the performance of a 2.5 in. diameter extruder is studied with the aid of computer simulations. The effect of progressively increasing flight clearance on the extrusion of low density polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon 6/6 is presented. The remedial effect of increased screw speed and its side effects on melting behavior, solids content, extrudate temperature and power consumption are also described.     

Correlations between extrusion and injection molding process variables for PVC dry blends

Although thermoplastic extrusion and injection molding have been extensively studied by a large number of authors, very little is known about the correlations between the extrusion and injection molding process variables. This paper describes the various comparable process variables between extrusion and injection molding of PVC dry blends. The Brabender extruder of 19 mm diameter and 25:1 length to diameter ratio and the Szekeley reciprocating single screw injection molding machine were used. PVC dry blends of industrial importance were prepared using a high speed mixer. The four mix formulations based on a commercial grade of PVC were used. Process variables studied during the injection molding were the melt temperature near the nozzle, injection pressure, injection speed, and energy consumption. Process variables studied during extrusion were the melt pressure at the die, power consumption, and the melt temperature at the die orifice. The correlations between the extrusion and injection molding process variables for PVC dry blends have been established.     

A Computer Model for Single-Screw Plasticating Extrusion

A fully predictive computer model has been developed for a single-screw plasticating extrusion (with conventional screws). The model takes into account five zones of the extruder (hopper, solids conveying, delay zone, melting zone, melt conveying) and the die, and describes an operation of the extruder-die system, making it possible to predict a mass flow rate of the polymer, pressure and temperature profiles along the screw channel and in the die, solid bed profile, and power consumption. Moreover, mixing degree, temperature fluctuation and viscoelastic properties of the polymer are estimated. The simulation parameters are the material and rheological properties of the polymer, the screw, hopper and die geometry, and the operating conditions (screw speed and barrel temperature profile). Such a comprehensive approach to the modeling of extrusion creates the possibility of optimizing the process, for example, from the point of view of the quality of extrusion. The model has been verified experimentally for a low-density polyethylene on a 45 mm diameter single-screw extruder.     

Melting mechanism of a starved‐fed single‐screw extruder for calcium carbonate filled polyethylene

A study of starved‐fed single screw extrusion was initiated to understand the relation between its distinctive melting mechanism and the improved mixing capabilities attained during compounding of a calcium carbonate filler into HDPE. Experiments were carried out in a 63.5 mm single screw extruder, examining the effect of degree of starvation on a conventional and barrier feed screw. Interest was focused on the mixing/melting mechanism of starved‐fed solids‐conveying as it affects the size and number of filler agglomerates observed in the extrudate. The melting performance of both feed screws was examined using pressure and temperature measurements down the screw length as well as direct inspection of the polymer in the screw channel via rapid screw cooling. Both screws showed improved mixing quality with increased starvation.     

Continuous polymerization of ω‐lauryl lactam in an intermeshing corotating twin‐screw extruder

This article describes the synthesis of poly(ω‐lauryl lactam) by a reactive extrusion process. Anionic ring‐opening polymerization was performed in an intermeshing corotating twin‐screw extruder. We investigated the evolution of conversion of ω‐lauryl lactam as a function of reaction time, screw speeds, different feed rates, and different screw configurations along the screw axis in a twin‐screw extruder. For comparison with continuous polymerization in a twin‐screw extruder, we studied polymerization in an internal mixer, which was considered a batch reactor. We found the final conversion of ω‐lauryl lactam made in a twin‐screw extruder was higher than in an internal mixer. Higher molecular weights are found at lower screw speeds and feed rates. Melt viscosities and mechanical properties of the polymers were measured. Residence time, molecular weights, and shear mixing have the main effect on the mechanical properties of products. The twin‐screw extruder performance was interpreted in terms of commercial software. It was found that twin‐screw extruder reaction rate was higher than those in the batch reactor and increased locally with screw speed and feed rate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1605–1620, 2005     

Power consumption in the compacting process of polymer particulate solids in a vane extruder

An innovational vane extruder made polymeric materials endure an elongation stress that was much larger than the shearing stress in the extrusion process. The operating principle of the vane extruder was completely different than that of conventional screw extruders. As the first stage of polymer processing in the vane extruder, the process of solids conveying was composed of feeding, compacting, and discharging. Most of the energy was consumed in the compacting process of polymer particulate solids in this stage. A mathematical model was developed to analyze the power consumption in the process. The model showed that the power consumption was mainly influenced by the structural parameters of the vane extruder, including the rotor diameter, eccentricity, and axial width of the vane unit. The analysis indicated that more energy was used to generate pressure in the vane extruder than in a screw extruder. The theoretical model was verified by the experimental results. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Computation of starch cationization performances by twin‐screw extrusion

A theoretical model for the cationization of plasticized wheat starch in a modular seIf‐wiping co‐rotating twin screw extruder was developed. Our objective was to build a model which would be able to predict the evolution of the cationization reaction along the screws, in relation with the processing conditions and the geometry of the twin screw extruder. Based on previous studies on reactive extrusion modeling, the present model takes into account the interactions occurring between the flow conditions encountered in the extruder and the kinetics of the reaction. It allows one to predict the influence of operating parameters such as reagent concentrations, feed rate, screw speed, and barrel temperature on the reaction extent. Depending on conditions, degrees of substitution in the range 0.01–0.05 are obtained, with efficiencies between 30 and 90%. A good agreement is found between theoretical results and experimental measurements, allowing future use of the model for optimization and scale‐up purposes. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:112–119, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

mLLDPE及mLLDPE/LDPE共混物挤出加工性能的研究

使用双螺杆挤出机、单螺杆挤出机研究了mLLDPE及mLLDPE/LDPE共混物挤出表面、螺杆扭矩与喂料速度、螺杆转速之间的关系 ,并讨论了有机硅对mLLDPE/LDPE共混物挤出性能的影响     

Molecular weight control of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in extrusion process

A control strategy is developed to control molecular weight of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, to overcome its degradation through an extrusion process. To obtain dynamic model of a twin screw extruder, steady‐state, and unsteady‐state experiments were performed. Discrete convolution models between inputs and outputs were obtained. Process inputs were considered as screw speed (SS), feed rate, and barrel temperatures and the output was viscosity average molecular weight (M_v) of the extrudate. SS and molecular weight of the product were chosen as the manipulated, controlled variable pair by considering singular value decomposition (SVD) technique. Model based PID controller and model predictive controller were used in the designed control scheme. By the simulation studies, both controllers were found to be successful for set‐point tracking, disturbance rejection cases; and were proven to be robust under modeling errors. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:459–465, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Infrared melt temperature measurement of single screw extrusion

An infrared temperature sensor has been used to provide real time quantification of the thermal homogeneity of polymer extrusion. The non‐intrusive sensor was located in the barrel of a single screw extruder, positioned such that it provided a measurement of melt temperature in the channel of the metering section of the extruder screw. The rapid response of the technique enabled melt temperature within the extruder screw channel to be monitored in real time, allowing quantification of the thermal stability of the extrusion process. Two polyethylenes were used in experiments with three extruder screw geometries at a range of screw speeds. Data generated by the infrared sensor was found to be highly sensitive to thermal fluctuations relating to the melting performance of the extruder screw. Comparisons made with an intrusive thermocouple grid sensor located in the extruder die suggested that the infrared technique was able to provide a similar level of information without disturbing the process flow. This application on infrared thermometry could prove highly useful for industrial extrusion process monitoring and optimization. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1059–1066, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Polymer Engineering & Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of screw axial vibration on polymer melting process in single‐screw extruders

A model for investigating the melting process of polymer in a vibration‐induced single‐screw (VISS) extruder is presented. The key feature of this model is as follows: vibration force field is introduced into the overall course of extrusion by the axial vibration of the screw, and the velocity distribution in the polymer melt behaves strongly nonlinear and time‐dependent. To analyze this model, half‐open barrel visible experimental method and low‐density polyethylene material are adopted to investigate the effect of the vibration parameters on the melting process, which goes into further details of study and research on the melting mechanism, and thus, a novel physical melting model is derived. Combining the conservation equations of mass, movement, energy, and constitutive, analytical expressions of the melting rate, the energy consumption, the length of melting section, and the distribution of solid bed are obtained. This model enables the prediction of the processing and design parameters in the VISS extruders from which the optimum conditions for designing VISS extruder and polymer processing are obtained. The theory is supplemented by a calculation sample and experiment, which shows that the introduction of vibration force field can improve the melting capacity and decrease the power consumption of extruder greatly. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3860–3876, 2006     

Online Light Scattering Measurements as a Means to Assess Influence of Extrusion Parameters on Non‐reactive Polymer Blend Morphology: Experimental Procedure and Preliminary Results

The influence of extrusion parameters on the morphology of non‐reactive blends has been investigated by means of online light‐scattering measurements. A light‐scattering device was especially designed to be mounted on a twin screw extruder at different locations along the barrel. The obtained light‐scattering patterns were interpreted with respect to the variation of the processing parameters. Preliminary results show that there is little effect of the rotational speed, position along the screw and feed throughput on the morphology but a quite noticeable effect of the blend composition. These results were confirmed by SEM micrographs.     

Applying the constrained minimum variance control theory on in-line viscosity control in the extrusion molding process

In this study, the constrained minimum variance (CMV) control strategy was applied on the extrusion process. An in-line viscometer was designed and used to measure the viscosity of the polymer melt between the screw end and the die. Under constant temperature, the screw speed was treated as the plant control input, and the viscosity of the polymer melt was treated as the output. The system transfer function and the disturbance dynamic model of the plant were obtained experimentally. Comparing the CMV control strategy with the open loop control method, the variance decreased 39.1% in the simulation, and it also decreased 24.3% in experimental results. This shows that the CMV control method is effective on reducing the fluctuation of viscosity in an extruder. Improved stabilization of the viscosity of the polymer melt in the barrel was thus achieved.