| Abstract: | A steady state model for melting in a screw extruder has been developed based on the assumption that a stable solid bed of polymer granules is melted by heat that is conducted from a hot barrel and heat that is generated by viscous dissipation in the film that separates the solid bed and the surface of the barrel. The solid bed gradually decreases in width, as it proceeds in the channel, until it disappears at which point the melting is terminated. The model predicts the solid bed width profile and the required length of melting in terms of physical properties, operating conditions, and geometry of the screw. The model has been tested based on experimental data. |
