Continuous Kneader
Continuous Kneader
The B&P Littleford Continuous Kneader is a moderate-shear rotating and reciprocating single-screw extruder ideally suited for shear- and temperature-sensitive compounds. The flights on the screw are interrupted and interact with three rows of stationary kneading pins located in the barrel wall. The interaction between the moving flights and the stationary pins provides dispersive mixing and distributive mixing simultaneously.
Pressurization and discharge shaping of the output from Continuous Kneaders is executed by utilizing a separate metering device such as a melt pump or a single-screw discharge extruder. The inherent separation of the kneading step from melt pressurization step results in greater process flexibility (i.e. a wider processing window), improves mechanical energy efficiency (efficient mixing at high screw speed combined with efficient pumping at lower metering speed) and lowers the overall melt temperature.
Our Continuous Kneader Portfolio
B&P Littleford’s comprehensive Continuous Kneader portfolio provides the most suitable solution for the mixing and extrusion of plastics and other basic materials, and largely out of our standard product offering.
Continuous Kneaders available in a wide range of screw sizes from 30-300 mm with process lengths ranging from 8 to 20 L/D.
Compact high-performance gearbox, capable of screw speeds up to 750 rpm.
Cored screw shaft option for fluid tempering.
Electric heating and water cooling (standard) or fluid cooling (optional).
Wide range of customized supporting equipment such as top feeders, side feeders, vacuum vent stuffers, vacuum connection chute, melt pump, discharge extruders and die face pelletizer.
Advantages Of Continuous Kneaders
Process advantages of the B&P continuous kneader include:
Peak shear rate is lower than other compounders
The continuous kneader operates at comparatively lower internal pressure
Excellent distributive mixing eliminates localized scorching that may be generated in the shear gap
Uniform shear and elongation:
Shear stress is dependent and proportional to screw speed and independent of screw diameter
Uniformity of temperature, pressure and narrow residence time distribution
Greater surface area, more free volume and higher specific torque capability
Total shear strain is controllable by adding or removing pins and flights
Ability to measure melt temperature or inject liquids at any point along the process
Efficient self-wiping mixing mechanism
Easy to clean split barrel results in faster product changeover
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