An extruder (100) for comestible material comprises a tubular barrel (104) and one or more elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screws (120, 122) within the barrel (104), where the barrel (104) has a delivery opening (114a). The extruder barrel (104) is equipped with an assembly (22) for delivery of fluid to the interior thereof, including a static mixing section (54) operable to blend steam and water to create a blended mixture; the blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by of a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

The instant disclosure provides a die assembly for producing microcapillary film. The die assembly is operatively connectable to an extruder having a thermoplastic material passing therethrough. The die assembly includes a pair of die plates, a manifold, and a plurality of nozzles. The manifold is positionable between the pair of die plates and defining a plurality of film channels therebetween. The plurality of film channels converge into an elongate outlet. The thermoplastic material is extrudable through the plurality of film channels and the elongate outlet to form a multi-layer film. The plurality of nozzles are positionable between the plurality of film channels. The plurality of nozzles are operatively connectable to a source of channel fluid for emitting the channel fluid into the thermoplastic materials exiting the die whereby microcapillaries are formed.

Methods of preconditioning comestible materials such as foods or feeds include the step of separately injecting steam and water into a static mixer in order to create a blend, which is then injected into the materials within a preconditioner barrel. The methods yield increased cook values in the preconditioned materials, with a reduction in evolved steam from the preconditioner.

The invention relates to a method for degrading (co)polymers in an extruder and an extruder suitable for performing said method.

A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.

A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.

A method of fabricating an injection-molded component is provided. The method includes the step of introducing pellets into an injection barrel of an injection molding machine. The pellets include a first supercritical fluid. The pellets are plasticized in the injection barrel and a second supercritical fluid is injected into the plasticized pellets. The second supercritical fluid and the plasticized pellets are mixed to form a mixed material. The mixed material is injected into a mold.

A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.

A dynamically vulcanized alloy containing an elastomer and a thermoplastic resin is prepared by a process wherein supercritical fluid is injected into the thermoplastic elastomeric material as the material is mixed in an extruder. The material is mixed under conditions such that the thermoplastic elastomeric material is dynamically vulcanized wherein the elastomer forms a discontinuous dispersed of small particles in a continuous phase of the thermoplastic resin. The DVA material may then be directly formed into film or sheets by the use of at least one set of rolls located adjacent to the extruder outlet.