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QUESTION YOU
What would be the ideal 'residence time’ in a Co-rotating Twin-Screw Extruder ? How does this actually influence the
outcome of the final product?
Actually, this depends a lot on the task that is being performed. Generally speaking, the shortest possible residence time to do the task
well is ideal. Reason is that excess residence time does NOT necessarily improve the mixing effect, as many tend to believe. In fact, there
is good evidence that excess kneading actually worsens dispersion. Also, any extra residence time goes into building up heat history of
the polymer, taking it closer and closer to the point where it begins to degrade. Just for the sake of bouncing some numbers, an average
compounding task with a 32 L/Dmachine normally has a residence time in the order of 8-30 seconds.
Response received from : Dr. Pradeep Bakshi.