Premium
Theory of mixing sections in single screw extruders
Author(s) -
Erwin Lewis
Publication year - 1978
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.760180705
Subject(s) - mixing (physics) , materials science , mechanics , work (physics) , plastics extrusion , kinematics , turbulence , mechanical engineering , classical mechanics , composite material , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics
A discussion of the effect of deformation on mixing leads to reorientation of fluid interfaces as a proposed mechanism for special “mixing sections” in single screw extruders. Based on the kinematics of mixing it is shown how a mixing section can greatly decrease the amount of work necessary to accomplish extensive mixing through orienting the fluid more favorably for mixing by subsequent shear. Mathematical development quantitatively describes favored configurations of mixing sections. An upper bound for the mixing performance of a simple model of an extruder with special sections is shown to be similar to turbulent mixing. Based on this theory the key actions of the special sections are identified.