Author details

polymer melt. In addition, the radial temperature difference of torsional screw is 15° C, whereas the radial temperature difference of conventional screw is 20°C, which is 25% higher than that of torsional screw. As the experiment data indicate that the radial temperature difference of melt decreases in the torsional configured screw, it can be concluded that the torsional configuration has a superior heat and mass transfer performance to achieve better temperature distribution than traditional

One of the fundamental questions of non-uniform heat and mass transfer in viscous fluid was addressed by proposing a radial torsional flow pattern, by designing a torsion element and validating the same in a melt-phase polymer extrusion process. The synergistic interaction mechanisms between velocity and velocity gradient and velocity and temperature gradient have been investigated by considering theoretical and numerical aspects, which provides a new perspective to understand the polymer processing. Considering the multi-field synergy, a new design concept of torsion screw configuration has been proposed to facilitate phase-

The spiral-shaped torsional flow induced by torsion configurations in a polymer channel changes the radial velocity direction, which in turn improves the interaction between velocity and temperature fields and helps to achieve good heat

transfer and temperature homogeneity. The new torsion elements and their arrangement provide a novel pathway to achieve good thermal management of polymer melt by enhancing multi-field coupling. These results can be achieved to guide the screw design used for preparing high-performance composites, especially heat-sensible and biodegradable nanocomposites or microcellular foam controlled

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51576012). Support from China Scholarship Council is also gratefully

CV constant-volume specific heat capacity, J/ (kgK) Cp constant-pressure specific heat capacity, J/ (kgK)

λ thermal conductivity, W/(mK)

δ velocity boundary layer thickness, m

screw, which is also in agreement with the simulation results.

to-phase thermal and molecular mobility.

acknowledged for Ranran Jian's joint PhD grant.

τ stress, Pa P pressure, Pa

ρ fluid density, kg/m<sup>3</sup> v fluid velocity, m/s

T fluid temperature, K x, y, z Cartesian coordinates, m

Appendices and Nomenclature

7. Conclusions

Thermosoftening Plastics

by temperature.

30

Acknowledgements

Ranran Jian1,2, Hongbo Chen3 and Weimin Yang1 \*

1 College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China

2 Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterial Processing, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

3 College of Electromechanical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China

\*Address all correspondence to: yangwmr@gmail.com

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
