ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING BARRIER SCREW PERFORMANCE
		
		
		

		

			
Rafael J. Castillo, 

			John Vlachopoulos, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

		
		
		

		

			
Abstract
			     Experiments were performed using four different industrial sized extruder barrier screws extruding two different polyethylene resins, 0.3 MI LDPE and 1.0 MI LLDPE, at two speeds. The data collected from these experiments consist of readings of pressure along the axis of the screw, exiting pressure, melt temperature, and output. The extruder motor load, screw speed and barrel temperature settings were also recorded. A model published by Chung in 1997 was used to estimate the melting capacity of the extruder screws for each test performed. The Chung model was then applied to a methodology for designing barrier screws based on their melting capacity. The melting capacity of each screw was analyzed in a stage-wise fashion in order to determine how barrier geometry affected the amount of melt being produced.


		
		
		

		

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