Breakup of silica agglomerates in corotating twin screw

extruder Modeling and experiment

Extensive experimental studies in silica agglomerate breakup during compounding with polymer
melts of various viscosities and polarities in a modular corotating twin-screw extruder were
conducted. To avoid a subjectivity of the full total result, due to small size particles involved, silica
agglomerates were seen as a measuring their mass typical values. Increasing the screw quickness,
melt viscosity, and silica concentration were found to increase the silica agglomerate breakup. The
effect of these parameters on agglomerate breakup was ranked as follows: silica focus > polymer
viscosity screw revolutions per minute (rpm). An excellent correlation between silica agglomerate
breakage and power source was also found. In line with the experimental info and dispersion
process, a composite modular kinetic style for analyzing silica agglomerate breakup during
compounding in a corotating twin-screw extruder was analyzed. The kinetic constants of breakup
and reagglomeration of silica agglomerates were calculated using the stresses applied to the
agglomerates and their cohesive power. These constants for silica agglomerates were found to be
not distinctive at increased concentrations significantly. The latter was in contrast to experimental
info from available literature on compounding of calcium carbonate with polypropylene where the
excessive reagglomeration kinetic constants of calcium carbonate in comparison with those of
breakup enjoyed a major part in the agglomerate breakup. Evaluation of the experimental and
plastic compounding machines calculated outcomes on the silica agglomerate size development
during compounding with polymer melts indicated an acceptable arrangement between them at
increased rotational speeds.