| Abstract: | The damage of glass fibers at various conditions was investigated in a corotating twin screw extruder by varying viscosity, screw speed, and screw configuration. Increasing the screw speed and melt matrix viscosity were found to increase the extent of fiber breakage. Based on the experimental data and Euler buckling theory, a composite modular kinetic model to describe glass fiber breakage was developed. Regions of the major and minor fiber breakage in a corotating twin screw extruder were found. The simulation program based on the experimental data and kinetic constants was developed for fiber breakage along the screw length. Comparisons were made between simulated results and experimental data indicating a reasonable quantitative agreement between them. Predictions of the model are also in general qualitative agreement with many published data on fiber breakage in twin screw extruders. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers |
