Enhanced Dispersive Mixing in Twin-Screw Extrusion via Extension-Dominated Static Mixing Elements of Varying Contraction Ratios
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H. Chen
Abstract
Twin screw extruders (TSE) are widely used in polymer blending and compounding operations, since the relatively high stresses they impart on melts and controllable residence times make them highly suitable for mixing operations. However, the mixing action in the industry-standard kneading blocks (KB) is shear-dominated and shear flows are inefficient for dispersive mixing compared with extensional flows. A novel static extensional mixing element (EME) was developed recently by our group with the objective of providing extension-dominated flow during blending and compounding. Dispersive mixing in the EME is provided by flow through stationary hyperbolic converging-diverging (C-D) channels placed along the screw. The improvements in dispersive mixing for immiscible blends using EMEs with wide hyperbolically channels, i.e., low contraction ratios, has been proved. In this work, we begin by performing computational investigations of more extreme contraction geometries to determine the design flexibility limits for the EME. The contractions again showed more extension-dominated flow patterns than the original EME, the drawback being the obvious increase in the pressure drop. However, at extremely high contraction ratios, the entry angle is so shallow that recirculation zones appear at the entrance, which are undesirable, implying that there are geometrical limits above which the EME ceases to be an effective dispersive mixer. Next, experimental validation on the EMEs with different degrees of aggressiveness of the C-D channel were performed and dramatic improvement in droplet breakup (dispersive mixing) in case of immiscible blends is clearly observed at all viscosity ratios and with increasing degree of EME aggressiveness.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Contents
- Contents
- Review Article
- Fluid-Powered Projectile-Assisted Injection Molding: Principles and Developments
- Regular Contributed Articles
- Correlations between the Hysteresis Parameters Determining the Rolling Resistance in Rubber Composites
- Global Modeling for Single Screw Extrusion of Viscoplastics
- Enhanced Dispersive Mixing in Twin-Screw Extrusion via Extension-Dominated Static Mixing Elements of Varying Contraction Ratios
- EPDM-G-GMA Toughening of Straw/Polypropylene Composites: Mechanical Properties, Thermal Stability and Rheological Properties
- In Situ Assembly of LDPE/PA6 Multilayer Structure by Stirring
- Modeling and Estimation of the Pressure and Temperature dependent Bulk Density of Polymers
- Influence of ABS Type and Compatibilizer on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PC/ABS Blends
- Analysis of Self-Reinforced Mechanism of Over-Molding Polypropylene Parts
- Grafting of Biodegradable Polyesters on Cellulose for Biocomposites: Characterization and Biodegradation
- PPS News
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Articles in the same Issue
- Contents
- Contents
- Review Article
- Fluid-Powered Projectile-Assisted Injection Molding: Principles and Developments
- Regular Contributed Articles
- Correlations between the Hysteresis Parameters Determining the Rolling Resistance in Rubber Composites
- Global Modeling for Single Screw Extrusion of Viscoplastics
- Enhanced Dispersive Mixing in Twin-Screw Extrusion via Extension-Dominated Static Mixing Elements of Varying Contraction Ratios
- EPDM-G-GMA Toughening of Straw/Polypropylene Composites: Mechanical Properties, Thermal Stability and Rheological Properties
- In Situ Assembly of LDPE/PA6 Multilayer Structure by Stirring
- Modeling and Estimation of the Pressure and Temperature dependent Bulk Density of Polymers
- Influence of ABS Type and Compatibilizer on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PC/ABS Blends
- Analysis of Self-Reinforced Mechanism of Over-Molding Polypropylene Parts
- Grafting of Biodegradable Polyesters on Cellulose for Biocomposites: Characterization and Biodegradation
- PPS News
- PPS News
