Abstract
We have been developed a three-dimensional non-Newtonian and non-isothermal flow simulation code of Twin Screw Extruder (TSE) using the finite element method. This code can simulate the fully filled part with several types of screw elements such as full flight screws, kneading blocks, rotors and their combinations. A marker particle tracking analysis has also been developed to estimate the stress, strain and temperature histories that polymer melts experience in the TSE. These results are expected to be useful data for understanding distributive, dispersive mixing and chemical reactions.
In this paper, simulations for the kneading blocks in a co-rotating TSE are carried out at rotational speeds of 200 and 400rpm. The screw configuration is 2-lobe kneading block with 90° stagger and the number of discs is 10. The pressure and temperature distributions obtained by numerical simulations are verified by experimental observations. A marker particle tracking analysis is also carried out under the same operational conditions. A broader residence time distribution and a higher temperature history are obtained at high rotational speeds. We also discuss the effect of differences in the rotational speed of the TSE on the distributive mixing.
