Dependence of melt temperature on screw speed and size in extrusion

Abstract

AbstractMelt temperature in an extrusion process can significantly influence production rate, product quality, and yield. However, prediction of melt temperature is extremely difficult because errors in the predictions of output rate, screw power, and heat transfer, which are used to calculate melt temperature, cumulatively cause a very large error in the prediction of melt temperature. This paper analyzed the overall energy balance of an extruder and developed a simple equation to predict the melt temperature of a projected extruder in scale‐up as a function of screw diameter, depth, and speed based on the experimental results of an experimental extruder and the polymeroperties. The predicted melt temperatures agreed reasonably with the measured values reported in a previous scale‐up study.