Modeling of peroxide initiated controlled degradation of polypropylene in a twin screw extruder

In this work, experimental and theoretical studies of the free‐radical initiated molecular weight degradation of polypropylene in a modular self‐wiping corotating twin screw extruder have been investigated. Our objective was to build a model that would be able to predict the evolution of the average...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer engineering and science 2000-02, Vol.40 (2), p.344-356
Main Authors: Berzin, F., Vergnes, B., Dufossé, P., Delamare, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Applied sciences
Chemical reactions and properties
Chromatography
Degradation
Engineering Sciences
Exact sciences and technology
Extrusion process
Materials
Molecular weights
Organic polymers
Physical sciences
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polypropylene
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Summary:In this work, experimental and theoretical studies of the free‐radical initiated molecular weight degradation of polypropylene in a modular self‐wiping corotating twin screw extruder have been investigated. Our objective was to build a model that would be able to predict the evolution of the average molecular weight along the screws, in relation to the processing conditions and the geometry of the twin screw extruder. Modeling the process involves resolving interactions occurring between the various flow conditions encountered in the extruder, the kinetics of the reaction and the changes in viscosity with changes in molecular weight. We have studied the influence of operating parameters such as the initial peroxide concentration, the feed rate and the screw speed on the degradation reaction. Good agreement was found between theoretical results and experimental values obtained by size exclusion chromatography measurements.
ISSN:0032-3888
1548-2634
DOI:10.1002/pen.11168