Effect of extruder screw geometry on melt temperature profile
Adrian Kelly, Elaine Brown, Phil Coates
University of Bradford
UK

Keywords: Extrusion, Temperature, Polyethylene


Thermocouple meshes have been used to measure the temperature profile of polyethylene melt at the exit of a 60mm single screw extruder. Measurements have been made across a 38mm cross-section using five-junction and seven-junction meshes. The meshes were located across the melt and provided temperatures at discrete positions across the flow, from which a thermal map was constructed. The effect of screw geometry was investigated, with comparisons made between a general purpose polyolefin screw with gradual melting zone, a rapid transition screw, and a barrier flighted screw.