Melting mechanism of a starved‐fed single‐screw extruder for calcium carbonate filled polyethylene

Abstract A study of starved‐fed single screw extrusion was initiated to understand the relation between its distinctive melting mechanism and the improved mixing capabilities attained during compounding of a calcium carbonate filler into HDPE. Experiments were carried out in a 63.5 mm single screw extruder, examining the effect of degree of starvation on a conventional and barrier feed screw. Interest was focused on the mixing/melting mechanism …