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A new approach to analyzing residence time and mixing in a co‐rotating twin screw extruder
Author(s) -
Gasner Glenn E.,
Bigio David,
Marks Charles,
Magnus Fredrick,
Kiehl Christopher
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.11415
Subject(s) - drag , residence time (fluid dynamics) , mixing (physics) , materials science , residence time distribution , plastics extrusion , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , viscoelasticity , volume (thermodynamics) , volume fraction , thermodynamics , composite material , physics , engineering , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics
A series of experiments was conducted to determine what correlations exist between an experimental parameter, percent drag flow, and other parameters such as head, tail and mean residence time. Experimentation was carried out on two polymer systems, a model system of near‐Newtonian fluid and a viscoelastic system of polyisoprene with several additives. To aid in the residence time analysis, data from three literature sources were cited and replotted. A family of residence time curves for a partially filled system can be combined into one curve by plotting the number of screw revolutions carrying the tracer to the extruder exit versus the percent drag flow. This method of plotting the data for each screw configuration estimates the mean residence time for any throughput and screw speed once a few data points are taken. In all four sets of experiments, the number of screw revolutions carrying the tracer to the exit decreases with increasing percent drag flow. The filled volume of the extruder was calculated from residence time data to show that percent drag flow is linearly related to extruder filled volume. When percent drag flow increased in the viscoelastic system the following results were recorded: fraction of polymer residence time spent in conveying elements increased, fraction of residence time spent in mixing elements decreased, polymer Mooney viscosity increased, number and weight average molecular weights increased and polydispersivity increased.