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Abstract
Scale-up Extrudate Swell of Rubber Compound on Capillary
Rheometer to Extruder
The relationship of extrudate swell occurring
in capillary rheometer and extruder is the aim of this study. Three assumptions
used are: (1) the molten polymer is sheared and given the largest deformation
at the entrance of the die; (2) the retraction of an elastic part occurs
during the molten flow in the die, and (3) the total retraction of the melt
appears at the exit of the die. The largest deformation at the entrance
of the die depends linearly onshear rate and the retraction in the die depends
linearly on both shear rate and die dimensions (diameter and length), which
is defined as a retraction function. Separation of these two effects on
the largest deformation and the retraction function is proposed by defining
a ‘extrudate swell rate function, K’ as (r(c)2-1)/gw’
where c is the extrudate swell ratio and g
is the shear rate. This indicates that K is a function of shear rate, die
dimension and melt properties, similar to the retraction function.
Extrudate swell of natural rubber compounds mixed with carbon black and
calcium carbonate were examined with a capillary rheometer and an extruder
at processing temperature of 100°C. The die used had various sizes varying
from 1.5mm – 5.5 mm in diameter and 16mm – 30mm in length while shear rate
is varied from 1 2000s-1. The results show that the empirical
extrudate swell rate function K is equal to Agnwwhere
n is a constant varying from –0.70 to –0.89 depending on the type of compounds
and A is a constant varying from 0.5 to 0.8 depending on the die length.
An agreement between the extrudate swell rate functions (K) obtained either
from the capillary rheometer and or with the extruder is discovered. Therefore,
extrudate swell behaviour observed in laboratory equipment as a capillary
rheometer can be used to explain the behaviour in an industrial extruder.
(Please check formula)

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