Methods of transforming an ultra-high molecular weight polymer into a processable material and compositions resulting from those methods. The methods may include a combination of applying a shear force to a polymer and heating the polymer. Also described are methods for using the compositions.

Methods of transforming an ultra-high molecular weight polymer into a processable material and compositions resulting from those methods. The methods may include a combination of applying a shear force to a polymer and heating the polymer. Also described are methods for using the compositions.

A method of devulcanizing crosslinked rubber uses a planetary roller extruder with a central spindle, planetary spindles, a housing, and a feed part. The method includes feeding vulcanized rubber through the feed part into the housing, rotating the central spindle about its rotational axis and thereby causing the planetary spindles to rotate about their rotational axes and revolve about the central spindle. This generates mechanical and thermal stress on the vulcanized rubber by kneading and/or crushing of the vulcanized rubber, breaking or destroying the molecular chains or bonds of the vulcanized rubber. The method further includes at least one of (A) adding particles of the vulcanized rubber eccentrically to the center of the planetary roller extruder module between the planetary spindles and (B) mechanically pressing particles of the vulcanized rubber between the planetary spindles with a crammer feeder.

A planetary roller extruder with planetary spindles and stop ring. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A process for the extrusion of plastics, such as plastics that tend to adhere or stick to parts of an extruder, using a planetary roller extruder in the feed part.

A method of continuously manufacturing a cured membrane includes continuously compounding and mixing a vulcanizable rubber composition in a mixing extruder while continuously removing gasses from the vulcanizable rubber composition during mixing with a vacuum. The vulcanizable rubber composition may be continuously extruded to form an extrudate, which may be continuously calendered to form a green membrane. The green membrane may be continuously cured, such as by a hot air conveyor curing system, to form a cured membrane.

The present invention is directed to a process for producing a modified olefin polymer in an extruder having a feed zone, a melting zone, optionally a mixing zone and optionally a die zone, (A) introducing a stream of an olefin polymer into the feed zone of the extruder; (B) introducing a stream of a free radical generator directly into the feed zone or the melting zone or the mixing zone, if present, of the extruder; (C) introducing a stream of a functionally unsaturated compound directly into the feed zone or the melting zone or the mixing zone, if present, of the extruder; (D) extruding the mixture in the extruder at a temperature which is greater than the decomposition temperature of the free radical generator and the melting temperature of the olefin polymer but less than the decomposition temperature of the olefin polymer thereby producing the modified olefin polymer in the extruder; and, optionally, (G) passing the melt of the modified olefin polymer through the die zone to a pelletiser.

A planetary roller extruder. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A device for producing a dyed plastic melt and an undyed plastic melt includes a multi-shaft screw extruder, a first metering installation, a second metering installation, and a control installation, selecting between a first operating mode for producing the dyed plastic melt and a second operating mode for producing the undyed plastic melt. The first metering installation feeds an undyed plastic material through a first infeed opening into a housing of the multi-shaft screw extruder, and the second metering installation feeds at least one dyeing agent through a second infeed opening into the housing. In order for the undyed plastic melt to be produced, the plastic material is fed exclusively via the first infeed opening such that residual dyeing agent which is still located in the second metering installation or in the region of the second infeed opening does not contaminate the undyed plastic melt.

A kneading apparatus (21) that makes it possible to easily obtain a kneaded material having a favorable property includes: a screw (23) for extruding polyethylene which has been fed through a feed opening (27); a first heater (24) for heating the polyethylene which is extruded by the screw (23); and a second heater (25) for preheating liquid paraffin which is to be added, through a side-feed opening (28), to the polyethylene which is extruded by the screw (23).