According to one embodiment, an extruder screw includes a screw body. The screw body is rotated about an axis parallel to a direction of conveyance of a raw material. A conveyance portion having a flight is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the screw body. The flight is configured to convey the raw material along the axis of the screw body when the screw body is rotated. A passage for permitting the raw material fed by the flight to pass therethrough to the outer peripheral surface of the screw body is provided in the screw body in a position deviated from the axis of the screw body.

A kneading apparatus includes a processor and an extruder. The extruder includes a screw. The screw includes a screw main body. A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of the screw main body. In at least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body and includes an entrance and an exit. The raw materials, pressure on which is increased by the barrier portion, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the path toward the exit. The exit is positioned to be remote from the entrance in an axial direction. A method of using the kneading apparatus includes continuously melting and mixing materials in the processor, using the melted materials as the raw materials, and continuously discharging kneaded materials produced by kneading the raw materials with the screw in the extruder.

A kneading apparatus includes a processor and an extruder. The extruder includes a screw. The screw includes a screw main body. A conveyance portion, a barrier portion, and a path are provided at places of the screw main body. In at least one of the places, the path is provided inside the screw main body and includes an entrance and an exit. The raw materials, pressure on which is increased by the barrier portion, flow in from the entrance. The raw materials flowing in from the entrance flow through the path toward the exit. The exit is positioned to be remote from the entrance in an axial direction. A method of using the kneading apparatus includes continuously melting and mixing materials in the processor, using the melted materials as the raw materials, and continuously discharging kneaded materials produced by kneading the raw materials with the screw in the extruder.

Provided are an apparatus and methods for dispensing a composition, the apparatus includes a barrel (120) having an inlet (128) and an outlet (129), a screw (122) received in the barrel, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a shank end (134) of the screw to rotate the screw. The screw is hollow and includes both interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a cavity (142) adjacent to the outlet, and wherein the screw further includes a plurality of apertures (140) through which the cavity and exterior surfaces communicate with each other. The apertures are located along a perforated portion (146) of the cavity, where the perforated portion can have a transverse dimension that increases with distance from the shank end. The apertures can also provide a hole area, relative to the exterior surface of the screw, that increases with distance from the shank end. The screw can also include a helical flight (132) having a raised flight section (150) and one or more lowered flight sections (152), where the apertures are at least partially located on the lowered flight section.

Provided are an apparatus and methods for dispensing a composition, the apparatus includes a barrel (120) having an inlet (128) and an outlet (129), a screw (122) received in the barrel, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a shank end (134) of the screw to rotate the screw. The screw is hollow and includes both interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a cavity (142) adjacent to the outlet, and wherein the screw further includes a plurality of apertures (140) through which the cavity and exterior surfaces communicate with each other. The apertures are located along a perforated portion (146) of the cavity, where the perforated portion can have a transverse dimension that increases with distance from the shank end. The apertures can also provide a hole area, relative to the exterior surface of the screw, that increases with distance from the shank end. The screw can also include a helical flight (132) having a raised flight section (150) and one or more lowered flight sections (152), where the apertures are at least partially located on the lowered flight section.

Provided is a method for producing a carbon fiber composite material having high strength and elasticity and containing recycled carbon fibers. When a raw material is transported along the outer circumferential surface of a screw main body 37 having a passage 88 therein, the transport of the raw material is restricted by a barrier portion 82 provided on the outer circumferential surface, a shearing force is applied to the raw material by the screw main body 37, and a stretching force is applied to the raw material by passing the raw material from the inlet 91 of the passage 88 provided on the outer circumferential surface to the outlet 92 of the passage 88, thereby shortening a fiber length of the recycled carbon fibers and obtaining a carbon fiber composite material having good strength and elasticity and containing 50-70 wt % of recycled carbon fibers well dispersed therein.

A production device for melt-blown non-woven fabric, with which a high molecular weight polymer can be reduced in molecular weight by applying a shear force to the high molecular weight polymer without adding an additive such as a peroxide that promotes thermal decomposition reaction, and a low molecular weight polymer can be efficiently produced. The low molecular weight polymer and the melt-blown non-woven fabric are produced using a continuous high shearing device that applies a shear force to the high molecular weight polymer serving as a raw material by rotation of a screw body 37 to reduce the molecular weight of the high molecular weight polymer so as to obtain a low molecular weight polymer, and cools the low molecular weight polymer by passing the low molecular weight polymer through a passage 88 arranged in the axial direction inside the screw body 37.