Abstract
Abstract A theoretical and experimental study of the flow of a rubber compound through dies of equilateral triangular cross-section is presented. To determine the pressure drop in these sections both the variational approach and the finite difference method are used. Velocity profiles for different non-Newtonian indices have been obtained under the assumption that rubber compounds conform to the generalised power-law equation of state. Comparisons between the two methods adopted and experimental data are made. Memory effects which contribute to extrudate swelling are also considered; and a quantitative analysis is carried out in which these effects are used to calculate a minimum die land or preform length. Experimental trials were carried out with an ethylene propylene ter polymer (EPDM) compound and a fair agreement was obtained with theoretical predictions. Also the assumed isothermal conditions were found to conform well with experimental results.
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