Thermo Scientific HAAKE MiniLab
The use of a conical twin screw extruder with backflow channel combines aspects of mixing and extrusion in a batch process.
Tests and results of the new MiniLab micro compounder are discussed in the following paper. With a total filling volume of 7 ml and a built in slit capillary die the applications focus on compounding and reactions of small amounts of polymers in molten stage.
Selecting the screw types: Co- or counter rotating?
In order to open up an even wider spectrum of applications for the customer, the MiniLab works as co-rotating or as counter-rotating doublescrew extruder. This results in different types of screws.
Simply exchanging two gear wheels in the gearbox changes the rotating direction of the screws. Figure 2 shows the co-rotating pair of screws. It also shows a faster compounding of the master batch in comparison to Figure 4.
A number of topics and applications have been presented on the HAAKE MiniLab in a combined product information flyer.
The topics included are:
• Toughness enhancements in poly (methyl methacrylate) by addition of oriented multiwall carbon nanotubes
• The effect of processing variables on the structure and rheological properties of polymer/clay nanocomposites: Nylon 6/clay
• Improving polymer blend dispersions in minimixers
A copy of this product information brochure is available by request.