Analytical melting model for extrusion: Melting rate of fully compacted solid polymers

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Abstract
The melting mechanism inside screw extruders is presently analyzed using numerical, iterative methods that are too complex to be used widely by practicing engineers. Our theoretical and experimental investigations of the melting mechanism have produced simple, analytical equations for predicting the melting rate of fully compacted solid polymers without iterative calculations. The accuracy of these equations was found to be satisfactory. Consideration of the temperature and shear dependencies of the melt viscosity was found to be essential for the accurate prediction of the melting rate.