A new 2.5‐D twin screw extruder melting model with comparisons to data

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science 2024-01, Vol.64 (1), p.62-86
• Main Authors: Campbell, Gregory A., Wetzel, Mark D., Andersen, Paul, Golba, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Design and construction; Devolatilization; Energy dissipation; Extruders; Feed zone; Friction; High density polyethylenes; Low density polyethylenes; Melting; melting model; Melting points; Methods; Pellets; Polyethylene; Solids flow; Thermal diffusion; Thermal properties; Twin screw extruders; twin‐screw extrusion
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.26529

Many polymers are processed and compounded in co‐rotating, fully intermeshing twin screw extruders. A typical compounding process consists of multiple unit operations including feed introduction, solids transport, transitioning from the conveying zone to the kneading block melting zone, melting, a downstream feed zone, a mixing zone, a devolatilization region, and a pressure generating discharge section. This paper will focus on the kneading block melting zone which typically includes a reverse pitch element so the kneaders remain full. Mechanisms for flow and energy input to pellets in kneading elements, including friction heating, pellet compression, energy diffusion, and viscous dissipation to form a melt phase: followed by viscous dissipation in a solid pellet/melt slurry, and heat transfer; are developed and implemented in a novel melting model. The model is validated with extrusion measurements and visualizations using low density polyethylene (LDPE). The predictions of the model are also compared with a classical set of experiments using high density polyethylene (HDPE). This paper describes the physics and engineering concepts that the authors feel are inherent in the melting section of the twin screw extruder where a large pressure peak is calculated using the friction and compression of the polymer pellets. The modeled increase in pellet bulk/surface temperature is due to the inclusion of four energy sources, pellet compression, thermal diffusion, friction energy dissipation, and viscous energy dissipation. This combined thermal dynamics based melting model results in a novel melting protocol. The melting mechanisms are coupled to flow regimes in the kneading blocks as melting progresses. The effects of throughput, Q, and screw rotation speed, N, are also examined. Highlights Novel 2.5D melting model for corotating, intermeshing twin‐screw extruders. Energy for melting; friction, deformation, diffusion, and viscous dissipation. The model helps elucidate mechanisms during melting in a twin‐screw extruder. A novel melting model based on four heat sources is developed for co‐rotating intermessing twin‐screw extruders.