Online monitoring techniques for studying evolution of physical, rheological and chemical effects along the extruder

Abstract During extrusion and/or compounding, polymeric systems may be subjected to a complex thermo-mechanical-chemical environment, therefore monitoring the evolution of physical, rheological and chemical effects along the extruder is an important tool assisting process understanding and optimisation. Online monitoring concepts that allow sample collection, rheology measurements and RTD characterisation at specific locations along the screw axis of an extruder are presented. Each practical set-up is presented, its operation is described and the results obtained are validated experimentally. Finally, examples of the use of the tools developed for the study of specific polymer systems are presented and discussed.

[1]  J. Mewis,et al.  Transient flow experiments in a model immiscible polymer blend , 1999 .

[2]  A. J. Bur,et al.  In-line dielectric monitoring during extrusion of filled polymers , 2002 .

[3]  M. Bousmina,et al.  Rheology/morphology/flow conditions relationships for polymethylmethacrylate/rubber blend , 1996 .

[4]  Andrew G. Glen,et al.  APPL , 2001 .

[5]  J. Covas,et al.  Monitoring polyolefin modification along the axis of a twin‐screw extruder. II. Maleic anhydride grafting , 2000 .

[6]  A. Hamielec,et al.  Chemical modification of polyolefins by free radical mechanisms: a modelling and experimental study of simultaneous random scission, branching and crosslinking , 1994 .

[7]  G. Seytre,et al.  In‐line monitoring of the injection molding process by dielectric spectroscopy , 2002 .

[8]  Liqin Chen,et al.  Residence time distribution in screw extruders , 1993 .

[9]  B. Vergnes,et al.  Modeling of peroxide initiated controlled degradation of polypropylene in a twin screw extruder , 2000 .

[10]  P. Carreau,et al.  Relationships between rheology and morphology for immiscible molten blends of polypropylene and ethylene copolymers under shear flow , 1998 .

[11]  James L White,et al.  Simulation of thermal degradation, peroxide induced degradation, and maleation of polypropylene in a modular co‐rotating twin screw extruder , 1997 .

[12]  Bruno Vergnes,et al.  Experimental and theoretical study of twin‐screw extrusion of polypropylene , 2000 .

[13]  G. G. Stokes.  "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[14]  David Wolf,et al.  Experimental study of the residence time distribution in plasticating screw extruders , 1976 .

[15]  P. Cassagnau,et al.  Melt Temperatures and Residence Times in an Extruder by Infrared Spectroscopy , 1997 .

[16]  J. Covas,et al.  Evolution of morphology and of chemical conversion along the screw in a corotating twin‐screw extruder , 1999 .

[17]  J. Covas,et al.  Evolution of chemistry, morphology and rheology of various polymer systems along a twin-screw extruder , 2002 .

[18]  Christopher W. Macosko,et al.  Rheology: Principles, Measurements, and Applications , 1994 .

[19]  S. Al‐Malaika.  Reactive modifiers for polymers , 1997 .

[20]  Stephen T. Balke,et al.  Development of an in-line rheometer suitable for reactive extrusion processes , 1991 .

[21]  M. Huneault,et al.  In-line Ultrasonic Monitoring of Filler Dispersion during Extrusion , 2002 .

[22]  Pravin L. Shah.  Melt rheology and its role in plastics processing , 1997 .

[23]  J. M. Nóbrega,et al.  Rheological measurements along an extruder with an on-line capillary rheometer , 2000 .