Author(s)

B.A. Davis, P.J. Gramman, J.C. Matzig & T.A. Osswald

Abstract

Simulating flow and heat transfer in polymer processing using BEM/DRM B.A. Davis, P.J. Gramman, J.C. Matzig, T.A. Osswald Polymer Processing Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA INTRODUCTION In a variety of processes in the plastic industry, such as extrusion, injection molding, and mixing, the knowledge of the temperature field and the amount of heat generated by viscous dissipation is of great importance. Due to the strong temperature dependence of the viscosity, the temperature field is necessary to predict the non-isothermal flow of polymer melts. In polymer flow through narrow geometries, vast amounts of mechanical energy are converted irreversibly into heat due to internal friction. The viscous dissipation may increase the overall bulk temperature of the fluid significantly, which may lead to thermal degradation of the polymer. In fact, 50-80% of the energy required for plastication co

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