A Simplified Model for the Melting of Polymer Pellets under Compression in a Twin-Screw Extruder
Plastic energy dissipation (PED) is an important mechanism involving the melting of polymer in a twin-screw extruder. In the present study, the melting behavior of polymer pellets under compression is studied by a simplified model with the finite element method, based on the fact that mechanical energy from the deformation of a single pellet is converted into heat energy. The model shows that the heating of the pellet is not uniform. Under compression, the contact area of the pellet yields first, and the deformation in the pellet depends on the compression ratio and properties of the pellet. The simulated results show that the temperature in the volume around the line passing through the contacting point and the center of the pellet is higher than the temperature further from the contact area.
Melting phenomena and mechanisms in polymer processing equipment
This article examines the heating and melting phenomena taking place when individual polymer particulates or compacted polymer particulate systems are subjected to stressing that forces them to deform and flow. The heating/melting behavior in compression experiments of single polymer cylinders and melting in batch internal mixers, as well as in corotating twin-screw extruders, was examined. Different polymers and different polymer particulate solid systems were used, over a range of processing conditions. The results of this work shed light on the important roles that solid dissipative deformation and interparticle frictional phenomena play in generating the heat necessary to melt polymer particulate systems. Also, an attempt is made to deal with the modification of the thermal energy balance equation, so that it includes the heat-generating dissipative source terms. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 17: 285–305, 1998
A New Vacuum Pressure Infiltration CFRP Method and Preparation Experimental Study of Composite
In order to prepare a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composite (CFRP) with ideal microstructure and properties, a new vacuum pressure infiltration CFRP method is proposed based on an analysis of existing CFRP preparation process methods. Research on composite material preparation systems was carried out by using this new method principle. The system mainly includes a fiber pre-forming module, a vacuum heating infiltration module, a hot-press curing molding module, and a data acquisition control module. Under the conditions of natural curing at 0 MPa + 6 h + 25 °C, vacuum heating curing at –0.05 MPa + 30 min + 80 °C, and hot-press curing at 0.7 MPa + 5 min + 50 °C, a two-dimensional (2D) CFRP with excellent microstructure and properties was successfully prepared. Observing the microstructure of the prepared composite material, it can be found that the inside of the composite material was sufficiently and uniformly infiltrated, and common preparation defects such as holes and delamination were effectively controlled. Through the performance test, the bending strength of the material reached 790 MPa.