Some Experiments on Polymer Melt Flow in Single Screw Extruders

A brief description is given of the various assumptions possible in theoretical predictions of polymer melt flow in single screw extruders. The various dimensionless groups in which the results of computations can be expressed are described including power consumption. Experiments are then described in which a silicone polymer is pumped in a 1½ in diameter screw and measurements are made of power consumption, flow rate and pressure for various screw geometries. It is concluded that a two-dimensional, non-Newtonian, non-isothermal solution gives the best prediction but that there are significant errors due to thermal convection and surface slip in the clearance at higher speeds.