Some aspects of a plastics pulverization technology by extrusion

This study presents results, observations and new developments on the pulverization of low density polyethylene (LDPE) by a nontraditional technology. A twin screw conical counter‐rotating extruder, a mixer head with roller blades and a single screw extruder attached to a C.W. Brabender PL2000 Plasti‐Corder were utilized as pulverization apparatuses. The pulverization phenomenon was studied over a wide range of shear rates and at resin processing temperatures below and above the Vicat softening point, i.e., at solid and soft (visco‐elastic/rubbery‐like) state of the material. A hypothesis about the pulverization mechanism of LDPE at a temperature between melting/crystallization temperature and Vicat softening point is presented.