| Abstract: | We have developed an instrumented dual slit die mounted on a twin‐screw extruder. This device allows us to distinguish the predominant flow pattern and calculate the shear viscosity, Cogswell elongational viscosity, and a Mooney wall‐slip velocity. The melt‐down process is also monitored by measuring the screw torque together with temperatures and pressures along the screw barrel. So far, we have seen that many pipe and profile formulations have a predominant plug or slip‐dominated flow behavior in the die, while others can be more sticky. Generally, the sticky highly viscous formulations will be more affected by shear heating effects when exposed to high rates during processing. We also give a detailed discussion, with examples, of how data from the device are to be analyzed and how the correct flow boundary condition is to be identified. |
