Flat Screw Plasticizing Device Surface Energy Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasticizing devices face instability in material plasticization due to adhesion of the material to the rotor and barrel surfaces, leading to inadequate supply through communication holes.
Innovation Solution
A plasticizing device with a flat screw having a groove forming surface with a lower surface free energy than the facing barrel surface, ensuring the material is less likely to adhere to the screw and more likely to move towards the communication hole, facilitated by a heating unit and specific surface energy differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotor with a groove forming surface and a barrel with a communication hole are used for plasticization, then the device can process materials, but the material adheres to the rotor side and is less likely to be supplied to the communication hole, causing unstable plasticization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface free energy parameter of the groove forming surface by applying a fluorine-containing resin coating, reducing it to be lower than the facing surface of the barrel. This parameter change prevents material adhesion to the rotor and ensures stable material supply to the communication hole, resolving the instability in plasticization.
2Device complexity
If the groove forming surface and facing surface have similar surface free energies, then the structure is simple, but material adhesion occurs on the rotor side, reducing material supply to the communication hole
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies a fluorine-containing resin coating to the groove forming surface, which fundamentally changes the surface free energy parameter. This coating treatment is relatively simple to apply but effectively reduces surface free energy below that of the barrel's facing surface, preventing material adhesion while maintaining structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration stabilizes the plasticization process by reducing adhesion to the screw and enhancing material conveyance to the barrel, allowing for effective injection, whether through small or large nozzles, and handling difficult-to-plasticize materials.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit configured to heat the material supplied into the groove
Implementation Method 2
The groove forming surface has a region having a surface free energy lower than a surface free energy of the facing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A plasticizing device includes: a flat screw having a groove forming surface and a length in a rotation axis direction shorter than a length in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction; a barrel that has a facing surface facing the groove forming surface and in which a communication hole communicating with the facing surface is formed; and a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied into a groove. In a region in which the groove forming surface and the facing surface face each other, a surface free energy of the groove forming surface is lower than a surface free energy of the facing surface.