Numerical simulation of reactive extrusion processes of PA6

Abstract

To analyze the complicated relationships among the variables during the reactive extrusion process of polyamide 6 (PA6), and then control the chemical reaction and the material structures, the process of continuous polymerization of caprolactam into PA6 in a closely intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder was simulated by means of the finite volume method, and the influences of three key processing parameters on the reactive extrusion process were discussed. The simulated results of an example were in good agreement with the experimental results.

Reactive Processing of Thermoplastic Polymers: A Review of the Fundamental Aspects

“…The comparison of the simulated parameters (residence time, melt temperature and conversion) to the values determined by experiments showed a close agreement between model and experiment. These results were recently confirmed again by Wu et al [401] on the simulation of reactive extrusion of PA6 in twin screw extruder.…”

Analysis of chemical calorific effect during reactive extrusion processes for free radical polymerization

“…In order to make a comparison with experimental results,9 the finite volume analysis of the reactive extrusion process for the homopolymerization of n ‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) was carried out by means of the software we developed independently 10, 18…”

“…The space of fluid flow in extruders is equivalently considered as a long axisymmetrical space, in which the effect of the axial motion of the solid wall on fluid flow is equivalent to the integrated effect of the screws and barrels on fluid flow 10, 18. The input key data related to the material and process are listed in Table 1 5, 9.…”

“…In order to solve the unsteady‐state problem, the incremental theory is introduced. According to discrete mathematics, the reaction temperature and the initiator concentration on a certain space point can be approximately considered as constants in a small time step 10, 12, 13, 18…”

“…In recent years, many theoretical and experimental studies have been reported in the field of reactive extrusion,2–10 and analyses of the chemical calorific effect during reactive extrusion processes were also developed preliminarily 2–4. Michaeli et al conducted a numerical simulation of the anionic polymerizations of nylon 6 and polystyrene in closely intermeshing co‐rotating twin‐screw extruders, and presented a model concerning the relationship between the heat and the extent of reaction 2.…”