flat spiral dies – Rheological design with network theory

W. Michaeli, P. Blömer

Institute for Polymer Processing

at RWTH Aachen University of Technology

Pontstraße 49, D-52062 Aachen, Germany

Abstract

The Institute of Polymer Processing (IKV) has recently developed a simulation program for calculating flow conditions in flat spiral dies. This program is footing on the network theory. The calculation results have been proved by investigations on a model die and on a blown film die. On the model die, the flow velocities were optically measured by Laser Doppler velocimetry. The calculated flow rates match these measurements very well. Moreover, the pressure and throughput performance of the blown film die corresponds well with the calculations. A point that needs further investigations is the mechanical behaviour of flat spiral dies.