Third M.I.T. Conference on Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics June 14–17, 2005  

Simulation of polymer flow in a rotating die-slot

A. Rawala,*, P.J. Daviesb
aCSIR, National Fibre, Textile & Clothing Centre, Gomery Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa bCentre for Materials Research and Innovations, Bolton Institute, Bolton BL3 5AB, UK
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ABSTRACT
The present work deals with the net structures, which are produced by replacing the static die (spinneret) with two concentric dies rotating in opposite directions in a melt-extrusion process. The effect of die rotation on the shape of extrudate is investigated by analysing the polymer flow inside the die slot using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package. Mathematical models of velocity profiles and shear stresses are also developed for polymeric flows between rotating dies.

Keywords:  Power law; Non-Newtonian; Computational fluid dynamics; Die slot; Net
* Corresponding author. Tel.: + 27 (41) 508 3267; Fax: + 27 (41) 583 2329; E-mail: arawal@csir.co.za