Experiments and FE simulation for twin screw mixing of nanocomposite of polypropylene/multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Elaboration of the feedstock in polymer/carbon nanotubes is introduced in both aspects of the experiments by a twin screw mixer, and the corresponded simulation of mixing process. The viscous behaviors are calibrated by a capillary rheometer under different temperature. The achieved data are used to determine the parameters in the suitable viscous laws with the satisfied verification. Front cover of the mixer is replaced by a transparent one, which permits the direct observation of mixing process, and the record of temperature evolution by an infrared camera with high performance IR imaging. The simulations of mixing processes in a twin screw mixer, with the determined viscous law and the temperature conditions justified by experiments, are realized by software COMSOL (c) with its performance in coupling of the multi-physics. Different referential frames and ALE formulation are used for the counter rotations of two screws in mixing chamber. The mechanism of nanocomposite mixing in twin screw chamber is investigated with the achieved results. Comparison between the results of simulation and experiments proved the proposed methods and the prepared feedstock for nanocomposite. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.