Apparatus for reducing viscosity of molten moldable polymeric material

摘要

In the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for continuously reducing the viscosity of molten moldable polymeric material using shear vibration under extensional flow to cause shear thinning and/or disentanglement. The apparatus comprises one or more station treatment cavities /3/ defined by a gap composed of two closely separated surfaces /6, 7/ in relative motion with each other at given speed and/or submitted to relative oscillations, with given frequency and amplitude to produce a shear deformation on the molten material and a controlled variation of the gap dimension. The surfaces /6, 7/ have a contour profile of ribs and/or bumps and/or grooves over which the molten moldable material can flow. The treatment cavities /3/ have an inlet /30/ through which the molten moldable material can pass into, and an outlet /31/ through which it can exit each treatment cavity /3/. The apparatus further comprises means /37, 38, 39/ for monitoring and controlling the temperature of the melt contained within the treatment cavity /3/ gap.