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Numerical investigation of the effect of screw geometry on the mixing of a viscous polymer melt
Author(s) -
Wang C.,
Bussmann M.,
Park C. B.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.31039
Subject(s) - plastics extrusion , mixing (physics) , extrusion , materials science , die (integrated circuit) , heat transfer , composite material , polymer , flow (mathematics) , extrusion moulding , mechanical engineering , mechanics , engineering , physics , nanotechnology , quantum mechanics
In polymer extrusion processing, mixing enhancement is an important consideration when an extruder screw is being designed. There are a variety of mixing elements used in the extrusion industry, with little consensus about what differentiates a good mixing section from a poor one. However, good mixing is important for homogenizing the material structure and temperature profile in the flow channel. This article presents a numerical analysis of the role of screw geometry in mixing in a cooling extruder. Four geometries, typical of those used by the extrusion industry, are assessed by the study of the polymer melt flow and heat transfer in the screw channels. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010