Effect of processing conditions on wood and glass fiber length attrition during twin screw composite compounding

In this study, we compare the effect of twin-screw extrusion processing on the attrition of wood fibers (WFs) with glass fiber. The effects of process variables and screw design on fiber length were investigated by performing a range of dead-stop experiments where the extruder was stopped, opened-up, and compound removed from the screw elements. Fibers, chemically extracted from the polypropylene matrix, were analyzed for length and width using a commercial fiber analyzer. It was found that WF length attrition and composite properties were less affected by screw design and twin-screw processing conditions (feed rate and screw speed) than glass fiber. Length weighted fiber length and X50 length (a measure used in particle size analysis) were equally correlated with process conditions and composite performance for both fiber types. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48551.     

Effect of screw design on fiber damage in extrusion compounding and composite properties

The mechanism of fiber length degradation during twin screw extrusion compounding and methods to reduce it through process and machine design are extremely important in discontinuous fiber reinforced composites. Fiber damage along the screw and the extruder die are determined for three screw designs with different mixing sections. The pellet quality, wet-out, and fiber dispersion in the extruded strands are compared. The fiber orientation distributions in the screw are determined to identify regions of higher fiber interaction. The fiber damage during subsequent injection molding has also been determined. The tensile, flexural, and impact properties of the tensile bars are compared. It is found that the residence time, fill-up, and the intesity of mixing during extrusion compounding have a predominant effect on fiber length degradation. The screw designs were seen to have a greater effect on the fiber damage in the 40 wt% glass-filled polymer than the 30 wt% glass-filled polymer. However, the mechanical properties of the 30 wt% glass-filled polymer showed an increasing trend compared to the 40 wt% glass filled polymer. A screw design that provides a balance of the fiber length, wet-out, and fiber dispersion was noted to give consistent mechanical properties.     

An experimental study of plasticating in a reciprocating-screw injection molding machine

Experimental studies were performed with low density polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers and on polyvinyl chloride to elucidate the nature of the plasticating process in a reciprocating-screw injection molding machine. Melting data, obtained by use of the “cooling experiment,” and plastic temperature data reveal that the screw recharge process is a transient plasticating extrusion process which gradually approaches the equilibrium extrusion behavior as the screw rotates. If the screw rotation time is a high percentage of the total cycle time, the plasticating behavior is very similar to steady-state extrusion behavior, but if the screw rotation time is a small percentage of the total cycle time, the plasticating behavior is significantly different. Furthermore, better plasticating is obtained by use of a low RPM and high percentage rotation time than by a high RPM and low percentage rotation time.     

Some studies on glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene. Part I: Reduction in fiber length during processing

The reduction in fiber length during extrusion and injection molding of two commercial glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene products containing 30 percent by weight of glass fibers was studied. The first product had very small fibers of average length around 0.5 mm and also contained a coupling agent. The second product contained relatively longer glass fibers of 9 mm length and no coupling agent. In both cases, fiber attrition occurs predominantly at the solid-melt interface in the meiting zone of the extruder. However, in the short fiber granules, the maximum of the length distribution, which for the initial sample is around 0.5 mm, moved to shorter fiber lengths along the screw channels further from the hopper. In the long fiber granules, a bimodal length distribution was obtained in the intermediate channels; the first maximum was around the original length of 9 mm and the second centered around 0.5 mm. Thus, the forces at the solid-melt interface result in fiber breakage to lengths which are predominantly around 0.5 mm. The fiber attrition was observed to be more severe in injection molding apparently because of higher shear rates and also because the fibers had to pass through narrow channels. The measured distributions of fiber length along the screw channels for the two products are presented, and the possible mechanisms of fiber breakage are discussed. The mechanical properties of samples containing different fiber length distributions and the effects of fiber length and interfacial adhesion on properties are presented and discussed in Part II.     

Extrusion Characteristics of Round-Section Dies with VFF

A vibration force field was applied to the whole process of polymer plasticating extrusion by periodical vibration of the screw. It observably affected both the extruder screw extrusion characteristics and the round-section die extrusion characteristics. It also affected the polymer plasticating extrusion process and the quality of the extrudates. An analytical model of typical dynamic extrusion of round-section dies was created. The results showed that a vibration force field can improve extrusion output.     

Correlation between processing conditions and fiber breakage during compounding of glass fiber‐reinforced polyamide

The inter‐relationship between processing conditions and fiber breakage has been studied for glass fiber‐reinforcedpolyamide 12, prepared using (i) an internal batch mixer, (ii) a laboratory scale corotating twin screw extruder, and (iii) an industrial scale twin screw extruder. The average fiber lengths and fiber length distributions were measured for various compounding conditions (screw or rotor speed, mixing time, feed rate). Experimental results have shown that fiber breakage depends on both screw speed and mixing time, the later being controlled, in an extruder, by the feed rate. For a given compounding system (batch mixer or twin screw extruder), the energy input (specific mechanical energy, SME) during the compounding process is found to be a reliable parameter, which governs fiber length (average, minimal, and maximal) evolution. Experimental data are correctly described with a model defining change in fiber length as a function of SME. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Analysis on Pulsating Flow of Melt for Reciprocating Extrusion in the Screw Channel

In the reciprocating extrusion, the vibration force field (VFF) is applied to the entire plasticating process by the axial vibration of screw and the novel concept on the polymer dynamic plasticating process being strengthened has been brought forward in the paper. The mathematical model is established that describes the plasticating process under the VFF and the approximative analytical solutions of the velocity distribution, pressure gradient in the screw channel and the plasticating capability are obtained. The theoretical results show that the axial vibration of screw can accelerate the blend capability of polymer and make melt temperature more uniform. With increase of the vibration intensity, the effect of blend and plasticating is enhanced further. The average pressure gradient drops down the channel under the VFF because of lower virtual viscosity of polymer melt and smaller flow resistance in the channel. The comparison between the theoretical analysis and the experimental results shows the plasticating capability of melt is improved with increase of vibration intensity.     

Processing–formulation–performance relationships of polypropylene/short flax fiber composites

This work is a comprehensive study of the effect of extrusion process parameters and formulation on the properties of polypropylene (PP)/short flax fiber composites. The parameters that were varied during the twin‐screw extrusion process were screw configuration, revolutions per minute (rpm), extrusion temperature, and flow rate. The effect of the feeding zone location of cellulosic fiber was also considered. This study investigates the effect of the formulation, cellulosic fiber content, the presence of a coupling agent, and of a reactive additive on composite performance. The composites were characterized in terms of morphology and microstructure, fiber length, rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties. Sensibility to humidity and recyclability were also considered. When compared with as‐received PP, the tensile strength of injection‐molded parts increased with cellulosic content by up to 40 vol %, and the tensile modulus increased 3.5 times when a combination of coupling and reactive agents was used. Exposed to controlled humidity of 50% during 1 year, these composites exhibited a very low level of humidity uptake around 0.85 wt %. The processability of these materials using a cast film line and the mechanical properties of extruded sheets are also presented. Furthermore, these materials demonstrate a good recyclability using injection molding by keeping the integrality of their mechanical properties after five reprocessing cycles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41528.     

Recyclability of a continuous e-glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate composite

Fiber reinforced plastics are multi-component materials for which physical properties are strongly dependent on fiber and resin structure. Despite the disruptive nature of recycling methods on such structures, these materials nevertheless can be recycled. In this report, the recyclability of a fiber-reinforced cyclic BPA polycarbonate has been studied. It is found that ground up composite is recyclable and possesses properties as good as or better than a comparable commercial composite. The processing techniques investigated herein are injection, extrusion compression, and compression molding. As expected, processing technique and parameters are important in determining the mechanical properties of the molded regrind. Our results show that injection and extrusion compression molding yield recycled composites with good tensile properties, though the impact strengths are relatively low. This is due to high fiber orientation and fiber bundle dispersion. On the other hand, compression molded samples, which show random fiber orientation and low fiber bundles dispersion have relatively low tensile properties, but excellent impact strength. Results are discussed in terms of microstructural details, which include resin molecular weight and fiber length and orientation.     

Resin distribution along axial and circumferential directions of self-wiping co-rotating parallel twin-screw extruder

A self-wiping co-rotating twin-screw extruder (TSE) is operated in a starved state in which the screws are partially filled with resin. Understanding the resin distribution on the screw surface of a TSE in this state is essential for the design, operation, and maintenance of the twin-screw extrusion process. Accordingly, in this study, the circumferential and axial distribution of resin in a TSE were simulated using a novel method combining the mathematical formulation of Hele–Shaw flow, the finite element method, and a newly developed down-wind pressure updating scheme. The results of the simulation were found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements. The proposed simulation method enables the detailed visualization of resin distribution in the entire axial and circumferential directions over the length of a TSE, improving the ability to determine both the devolatilization and fiber attrition during the extrusion process.     

Residence time distribution in a real single screw extruder

The residence time distribution in an industrial single screw extruder was investigated experimentally in the case of melt and plasticating extrusion. The investigations performed proved that the extrusion parameters influence strongly the residence time distribution in the extruder. It was found that the resistance to flow through the die-head of the extruder is very important from this point of view, as well as other parameters like rotational speed of the screw and the screw channel depth. Variation of these parameters can change the residence time distribution over a broad range between the extreme idealized cases of plug flow and flow with perfect mixing. In order to obtain quantitative dependences three moduli were used and a correlation equation was obtained. This equation enables an estimation of residence time distribution on the basis of experimental characteristics of the extruder and the actual extrusion parameters.     

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.     

A mathematical model for predicting dynamic behavior of a plasticating extruder

A mathematical model was developed to predict the dynamic behavior of flowrate and melt temperature in a plasticating extruder caused by changes in operating variables such as screw speed, back pressure and barrel temperature. The model has application for on-line computer control of an extrusion process or for simulation purposes off-line. Experimental data for developing the model was obtained from a 2½ in. diameter plasticating extruder producing high impact polystyrene sheet.     

Short Fiber orientation and its Effects on the Properties of Thermoplastic Composite Materials

I. INTRODUCTION

While it is true that preform processes involving the use of long or continuous fibers are known and used in the manufacture of reinforced thermoplastic articles–Azdel [1] or STX sheet [2], for example–it is generally the case that such articles are formed by injection molding. Both the feedstock requirements for this process and the occurrence of high melt shear during it ensure that only short fibers will be present in the finished article. Although the use of slow screw speeds, slow injection rates, low back pressure, wide sprues, runners, and gates, and large radii of curvature avoids fiber breakage during molding, such conditions are not often found in practice. Furthermore, the necessity of incorporating reground material into the feedstock also ensures short fiber lengths in the final part, lengths not greatly in excess of the critical length required for effective stress transfer from polymer matrix to reinforcing fiber. In a practical part, design uncertainties caused by fiber length attrition are further compounded by the effects of fiber orientation. Although length distribution effects have been studied by a number of workers, both experimentally [3] and theoretically [4], relatively little has been reported on orientation effects in short fiber reinforced thermoplastics.     

Studies on the theory of single screw plasticating extrusion. Part II: Non-plug flow solid conveying

A non-plug solid conveying theory for plasticating extrusion is proposed in this paper. The polymer granules are treated as-bulk pellets which move down the screw channel at different speeds, rather than as a plug which never experiences deformation during extrusion. The pellets system is considered as a linear elastic system, and can only resist compressive forces but riot tensile forces. Based on elastic mechanics and virtual work principles, a mathematical model for non-plug solid conveying is proposed. Finite element method (FEM) is used to determine the relationships between internal stress and velocity profiles of the pellets in the screw channel, the internal stress states at any point in the screw channel, etc. The prediction also proved the existence of the optimum depth of the screw channel and the optimum helix angle of the screw. Most of the experiments have been carried out on an extruder with glass windows it its barrel. The experiments confirm the validity of the theory.     

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.     

Fundamentals of plasticating extrusion. II. Experiments

Experiments were performed to develop quantitative information for designing plasticating extruders for low density polyethylene. Screw design variables explored included feed section length, compression section taper, and minimum channel depth. Operating variables included were screw speed, barrel temperature, and back pressure. A moving picture film illustrates temperature action and cross-channel temperature distribution for some typical experiments using a new type of extruder screw for 2.5 inch and 8 inch diameter extrusion. The information gathered was used to obtain relations between performance and screw dimensions and revealed an optimum combination of feed section length and compression taper.     

Effects of processing conditions on the fiber length distribution and mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced nylon‐6

The effects of processing conditions on fiber length degradation were investigated in order to produce composites with higher performance. Nylon‐6 was compounded with glass fibers in a twin‐screw extruder for various combinations of screw speed and feed rate. Collected samples were injection molded and Izod impact and tensile tests were performed in order to observe the effect of fiber length on the mechanical properties. Also, by using the extruded and injection molded smaples, fiber length distribution curves were obtained for all the experimental runs. Results show that when the shear rate is increased through the alteration of the screw speed and/or the feed rate, the average fiber length decreases. Impact strength, tensile modulus and tensile strength increase, whereas elongation at break decreases with the average fiber length.     

混炼设备结构对PP/GF复合材料中GF残存长度及其力学性能的影响

基于熔融共混法,分别采用双转子连续混炼挤出机和同向啮合双螺杆挤出机制备了20 %玻璃纤维增强聚丙烯（GFRPP）复合材料,并对制备出的GFRPP复合材料中玻璃纤维残存长度及其力学性能进行了相应表征,在此基础上探讨了具有不同混炼特性的混炼设备结构对GFRPP复合材料中玻璃纤维残存长度及其力学性能的影响。结果表明,GFRPP复合材料的力学性能随玻璃纤维残存长度的增加而明显提高;双转子连续混炼挤出机相对于同向啮合双螺杆挤出机更有利于保留长玻璃纤维,同时适当减弱双转子连续混炼挤出机的转子的分散混合能力,降低转子转速,有利于提高玻璃纤维的残存长度,制备出更高性能的GFRPP复合材料。     

Polypropylene/low density polyethylene blend matrices and short glass fibers based composites. I. Mechanical degradation of fibers as a function of processing method

The fiber length degradation during compounding (two-roll milling and twin-screw extrusion) of glass fiber and polypropylene (PP)/low density polyethylene (LDPE) blend matrices based composites was investigated. The effect of LDPE percentage and fiber content on fiber length were studied using a semiautomatic image analysis system. Two-roll milling causes a more severe attrition of the fibers than twin-screw extrusion. In the first case, the higher the LDPE percentage in the polymer matrix, the larger the final fiber length. Both methods lead to a broader fiber length distribution as LDPE percentage increases. The effect of fiber content is opposite to that of the LDPE percentage, but in the case of twin-screw extrusion it is less noticeable, During the injection molding of the composites a slight decrease of the final fiber length takes place. This decrease depends on the initial fiber length, the effect being more pronounced for longer fibers.