Heating and Cooling in the Screw and Barrel The screw and barrel assembly is the core section of an extruder, where the polymer is fed, melted, conveyed, mixed, devolatilized, and finally pumped to the die. Both the screw and barrel sections are designed to be modular, allowing them to be configured in different layouts to…
Feeding Polymer into a Twin Screw Extruder: Techniques and Best Practices Feeding polymer correctly into a twin screw extruder ensures consistent output and high-quality compounding. Several factors influence the best feeding method, including: The extruder design (parallel or conical, co-rotating or counter-rotating) The type of material used The location of feed introduction Starve Feeding in…
Drying Polymer Materials Before Extrusion: Why It Matters Proper drying of hygroscopic polymers before extrusion is essential to prevent material degradation and maintain high-quality output. Moisture-sensitive polymers absorb water from the air, and if not dried correctly, they can lose their mechanical strength, show surface defects, and suffer from reduced molecular weight. Why Some Polymers…
Raw Material Blending and Mixing for Extrusion Manufacturers often blend or mixing multiple ingredients before extrusion to meet the final product’s specifications. When you use more than one polymer or additive, you must ensure uniform distribution before materials reach the extruder feed throat. Key Challenges in Blending Multiple Raw Materials Separating powders from pellets Distributing…
