Co-rotating twin-screw extruder
Co-rotating twin-screw extruders are used for demanding compounding, extrusion, and recycling processes in the plastics industry. Due to their modular design, high mixing performance, and flexible process configuration, co-rotating twin-screw extruders are particularly suitable for processing thermoplastics, engineering plastics, masterbatches, fillers, glass fibers, additives, and recycling materials.
Process description of twin-screw extrusion
In a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, the polymer and all required additives are continuously fed into the process section of the extruder. Inside the process barrel, two intermeshing screws rotate in the same direction and transport the material through different process zones.
During the extrusion process, the material is conveyed, melted, mixed, dispersed, homogenized, degassed, and pressurized. Depending on the process requirements, the screw configuration can be individually adapted using conveying elements, kneading blocks, mixing elements, and degassing sections. This modular design allows optimum adjustment to different materials and applications.
The homogeneous polymer melt is discharged through a die system and can subsequently be processed by different pelletizing systems such as underwater pelletizing or strand pelletizing systems. Co-rotating twin-screw extruders are therefore widely used in modern compounding and recycling plants.
Advantages of co-rotating twin-screw extruders
- Excellent mixing and dispersing performance
- Modular screw design for maximum flexibility
- Suitable for compounding and recycling applications
- Efficient degassing
- High process stability and throughput rates
- Flexible integration of feeders and side feeders
- Processing of filled and reinforced compounds
- Suitable for a wide range of thermoplastics and engineering plastics
- Optimized process control for modern compounding lines
Typical applications
Co-rotating twin-screw extruders are commonly used for:
- Compounding
- Masterbatch production
- Recycling and reprocessing
- Glass fiber reinforced compounds
- Mineral-filled compounds
- Engineering plastics
- Polymer blends
- Bioplastics and biodegradable materials
- Degassing processes
Flexible system design: ips-DSE
Our co-rotating twin-screw extrusion systems can be individually configured according to the required application. Optional process equipment such as gravimetric feeding systems, side feeders, vacuum degassing units, melt pumps, screen changers, underwater pelletizing systems, and strand pelletizing systems can be integrated into the complete extrusion line.