Home A New Calculation Model and Optimization Method for Maddock Mixers in Single Screw Plasticising Technology
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

A New Calculation Model and Optimization Method for Maddock Mixers in Single Screw Plasticising Technology

  • G. Zitzenbacher , R. Karlbauer and H. Thiel
Published/Copyright: March 26, 2013
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Submit Manuscript Author Information
International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 22 Issue 1

Abstract

A homogenous melt is the prerequisite to achieve the demanded product quality in single screw plasticising technology. At higher screw speeds and mass flow rates solid particles can occur in the melt. Dispersive mixing elements are often used to improve the melt quality. Calculation models are necessary for designing mixing elements in the right way. A new model for the often used fluted mixing sections like axial and spiral Maddock-elements and Z-elements is presented in this paper.

The calculation model is reduced to a single pair of inlet and outlet flute, connected by the shearing gap. Especially in spiral Maddock mixers the longitudinal flow in the flutes is a combined pressure and drag flow but in axial Maddock mixers pure pressure flow occurs. In the shearing gap a combined pressure and drag flow can occur. The leakage flow through the flight clearance is also considered.

Geometry functions are introduced for considering the rectangular or circular segment shaped cross section of the flutes. The viscosity is shear rate and temperature dependent, the channel height as well as the channel width can vary along the mixing element. The model allows the calculation of the longitudinal pressure profile in the inlet and outlet flutes, the total pressure drop and the shear stress distribution in the shearing gap.

Mixing sections sometimes show a too high pressure consumption and insufficient shearing efficiency. Therefore a geometry optimization method for axial Maddock mixing heads is presented in this paper.

∗ Mail address: G. Zitzenbacher, University of Applied Sciences FH-Oberoesterreich, Department of Material Engineering, Stelzhamerstrasse 23, A-4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail:

References

1Tadmor, Z., Klein, I.: Design of Certain Fluted Mixing Sections of Extruder Screws, Polym. Eng. Sci. 13, p. 382 (1973)10.1002/pen.760130510Search in Google Scholar

2Elbirli, B., et al.: Analysis of the Performance of Maddock Head Mixer, SPE ANTEC Tech. Papers (1983)Search in Google Scholar

3Potente, H., Stenzel, H.: Wendelscherteile rechnerisch auslegen, (Calculating helical fluted dispersive mixing elements), Kunststoffe81, p. 153 (1991)Search in Google Scholar

4Stenzel, H.: Grundlagen zur verfahrenstechnischen Auslegung von Barriereschnecken in Glattrohr- und Nutbuchsenextrudern, (Fundamentals for designing barrier screws in extruders with smooth and grooved feed section), Doctoral Thesis, Universität Gesamthochschule Paderborn, Germany (1992)Search in Google Scholar

5Rauwendaal, C. J.: Polymer Extrusion, 4th Edition, Hanser Publisher, Munich, Vienna, New York (2001)Search in Google Scholar

6Han, C. D., et al.: A Study on the Performance of the Maddock Mixing Head in Plasticating Single-Screw Extrusion, Polym. Eng. Sci. 31, p. 818 (1991)10.1002/pen.760311109Search in Google Scholar

7Wang, Y., Tsay, C. C.: Non – Newtonian Flow Modeling in the Mixing Section of a Single-Screw Extruder with Flow Analysis Network Method, Polym. Eng. Sci. 36, p. 643 (1996)10.1002/pen.10452Search in Google Scholar

8Klason, C., et al.: Pressure Variation by Dispersive Mixers in Plasticating Extrusion, Kautschuk Gummi Kunststoffe52, p. 501 (1999)Search in Google Scholar

9Klason, C., et al.: A Network Analysis of a Screw Mixing Zone, Int. Polym. Process. 15, p. 3 (2000) S10.3139/217.1574Search in Google Scholar

10Potente, H., Többen, W. H.: Verbesserte Scherteilauslegung durch neue Modelle zur Prozessbeschreibung, (Improved design of dispersive mixing elements by new process models), Polymerforschung in Paderborn, Tagungsband zum Seminar Einschneckenplastifizierung (2001)Search in Google Scholar

11Tucker, C. L.: Fundamentals of Computer Modeling for Polymer Processing. Hanser Publisher, Munich, Vienna, New York (1989)Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2005-8-30
Accepted: 2006-11-15
Published Online: 2013-03-26
Published in Print: 2007-03-01

© 2007, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. International Polymer Processing Special Issue: European Coating Symposium 2005, University of Bradford, UK
  5. Invited Papers
  6. Coating and Polymer Processing
  7. Practical Limitations to Carrier Layer Formation on Inclined Planes
  8. Simulation of 3D Crystallization of Colloidal Nanoparticles on a Substrate during Drying
  9. Asymmetric Surface Roughness Formationon Moving Non-isothermal Liquid Coatings
  10. Inkjet Printing of Conductive and Resistive Coatings
  11. Moisture Sorption and Transport in Polylactide
  12. 10.3139/217.0992
  13. Review Article
  14. Welding of Plastics: Fundamentals and New Developments
  15. Regular Contributed Articles
  16. Numerical Simulation of Viscous Flow in a Partially filled Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruder
  17. Invited Papers
  18. A New Calculation Model and Optimization Method for Maddock Mixers in Single Screw Plasticising Technology
  19. Regular Contributed Articles
  20. Residual Wall Thickness Distribution at the Transition and Curve Sections of Water-assisted Injection Molded Tubes
  21. Numerical Simulation of Extrusion Coating
  22. Correlation between Injection Molding Parameters, Morphology and Mechanical Properties of PPS/SEBS Blend Using Artificial Neural Networks
  23. PPS News
  24. PPS News
  25. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
  26. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
https://doi.org/10.3139/217.0109

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. International Polymer Processing Special Issue: European Coating Symposium 2005, University of Bradford, UK
  5. Invited Papers
  6. Coating and Polymer Processing
  7. Practical Limitations to Carrier Layer Formation on Inclined Planes
  8. Simulation of 3D Crystallization of Colloidal Nanoparticles on a Substrate during Drying
  9. Asymmetric Surface Roughness Formationon Moving Non-isothermal Liquid Coatings
  10. Inkjet Printing of Conductive and Resistive Coatings
  11. Moisture Sorption and Transport in Polylactide
  12. 10.3139/217.0992
  13. Review Article
  14. Welding of Plastics: Fundamentals and New Developments
  15. Regular Contributed Articles
  16. Numerical Simulation of Viscous Flow in a Partially filled Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruder
  17. Invited Papers
  18. A New Calculation Model and Optimization Method for Maddock Mixers in Single Screw Plasticising Technology
  19. Regular Contributed Articles
  20. Residual Wall Thickness Distribution at the Transition and Curve Sections of Water-assisted Injection Molded Tubes
  21. Numerical Simulation of Extrusion Coating
  22. Correlation between Injection Molding Parameters, Morphology and Mechanical Properties of PPS/SEBS Blend Using Artificial Neural Networks
  23. PPS News
  24. PPS News
  25. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
  26. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 26.11.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.3139/217.0109/html
Scroll to top button