scholarly journals Development of a single screw extruder for the production of wood-plastic composite

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-69
Author(s):  
Temidayo Omoniyi ◽  
Dare Adesanya

This study was carried out to design, fabricate, assemble and evaluate the performance of a laboratory scale wood-plastic composite (WPC) single screw extruder that can be used for recycling wood and plastic waste materials using locally sourced materials based on availability, strength and cost effectiveness. The extruder is separated into four units; the feeding, conveying, heating and forming unit. The designed parts were; the hopper capacity, the shaft diameter, the screw dimensions (pitch, helix angle and diameter), and the capacity on the conveyor (feed throats, compression and metering units) units. The developed machine was evaluated by using it in extruding low density plastic wastes and gmelina (Gmelina arborea) sawdust. The results showed a hopper capacity of 38.3m3, shaft diameter of 60mm, screw dimensions (diameter=20mm, pitch=50mm, and helix angle = 17.650 ). The performance evaluation of the machine indicated an efficiency of 85% for the machine at an operating speed of 268rpm (4.5rps) with a throughput of 17.55kg/hr during a maximum period of 5 minutes. The mean water absorption (0.45-13.68%) and thickness swelling (0.14 - 0.94%) observed for the composites produced compared favorably with those reported in literature for WPCs recommended for non-structural indoor application purposes. The wood contents and soaking period had effects on the sorption properties and not the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the machine. The machine conserves cost and energy due to low specific mechanical energy consumption of 191.21kJ/kg.

A wood-plastic composite extruder (single screw extruder) was designed, fabricated and evaluated to recycle and produce a product for non-structural purposes. The extruder is separated into four units: The feeding, conveying, heating and forming unit. The material is fed by gravity into a hopper and conveyed by a screw conveyor at a predetermined speed through a heated barrel and the extrudate is metered through the breaker plate and the die. The output rate is directly related to the screw speed. Test samples were produced with the machine and experimental tests were conducted to determine its suitability for non-structural purposes and applications. The performance evaluation test on the machine shows that at speeds of 4rpm and 50.25rpm, the machine performs at 87% and 82% efficiency respectively which makes it effective for production. The machine takes a maximum of 5mins to recycle a batch with an average capacity of 14.04kg/hr at 4rpm and 17.55kg/hr at 50.25rpm. The machine conserves cost and energy due to low specific mechanical energy consumption of 191.21kJ/kg


2013 ◽  
Vol 448-453 ◽  
pp. 1363-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Li Liu ◽  
Guo Zhi Han ◽  
Yan Long Liu ◽  
Chun Feng Li

Based on diatomite as modifier, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene as compatibilizer, wood flour as reinforcing material, through single screw extruder, diatomite based wood plastic composite was prepared. The results show that: compared with one-grade-diatomite (OGD) and two-grade-diatomite (TGD), mechanical properties of the composites prepared by calcined diatomite (CD) are better, tensile strength and impact strength reached 46.9MPa and 20.1MPa. With respect to the diatomite types, it is more significant for the effects of MAPP mass on the mechanical properties of composites. The amount of MAPP was controlled in 4%, the mechanical properties of composites are better. The study of rheological properties showed that, the flow property of composites produced by calcined diatomite is better; the interface of the composite components is closer and more superior processability.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-292
Author(s):  
Akinfiresoye W. A ◽  
Olukunle O. J ◽  
Oyerinde A. S ◽  
Olutayo L. A ◽  
Edun B. M

This study involves the design and fabrication of a Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) extruding machine that recycle wood and plastic wastes; sawdust (SD) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into useful products for interior and exterior building applications. The machine was designed using locally sourced raw materials making it affordable, user friendly and can easily be maintained. The major components of the machine include; the melting and mixing chamber, extruding unit, heaters, control panel and discharged unit. PET chips were melted and mixed with SD at temperature 190 0C inside the melting chamber before feeding the extruding unit for thorough kneading. The extrudate is collected into a shaped mould, hot compressed and allowed to cool down before removal. A 4hp 3-phase electric motor was the prime mover. Analysis of performance test carried out on the extruder using three screw speed of 222 rpm, 277 rpm and 370 rpm shows that the best WPC was produced at speed 277 rpm with machine recycling efficiency of 89 %. It took 13 minutes to recycle a batch of the waste materials with a throughput of 0.8 kg/hr and specific mechanical energy of 145 kJ/kg. This machine gives effective waste management by turning it to wealth.


2012 ◽  
Vol 550-553 ◽  
pp. 1513-1521
Author(s):  
Sirirat Thothong ◽  
Klanarong Sriroth ◽  
Rattana Tantatherdtam ◽  
Amnat Jarerat

To improve the miscibility of native rice starch granules and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT), rice starch was hydrolyzed by a mixture of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase. The obtained porous rice granular starch was then mechanically blended with PBAT by single screw extruder. Many pits and holes on the surface of starch granules were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rough surface of the rice starch granules improved the compatibility of the polymers in the blends, which consequently increased the tensile strength and the elongation at break. In addition, SEM also revealed that the porous granules were homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix with no appearance of gaps.


2018 ◽  
Vol 204 ◽  
pp. 00008
Author(s):  
Heru Suryanto ◽  
Alfian Widi Rahmawan ◽  
Solichin ◽  
Sahana Rizki Tata ◽  
Uun Yanuhar

The development of materials engineering has led to many significant discoveries one of which is biocomposite with its diverse applications. The addition of reinforcing materials in biopolymers improves the composite properties. This study aimed at investigating the effect of adding nanoclay on the tensile strength, morphology, functional group, and structure of extruded biocomposites with cassava starch matrix. This experimental research involved different concentrations of nanoclay i.e. 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%. The extrusion process was performed using a single screw extruder at 120°C. The samples were characterized by tensile testing, XRD, and SEM. The biocomposite reinforced with 5% nanoclay had the highest tensile strength of 10.8 MPa. The highest diffraction peak at 2θ of 19.4° appeared in the sample added with 5% nanoclay. The addition of excessive amounts of nanoclay can hinder the formation of exfoliated structures.


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