Multi-screw kneader and method for producing nano-composite using said multi-screw kneader, and disk-shaped segment used for said kneader and said method

A disk-shaped segment for use in a multi-screw kneader including a plurality of full-flight screws for transferring a kneading material in a barrel, helical threads of the plurality of full-flight screws extending from a first position at or adjacent to a first terminal end of the barrel to a second position at or adjacent to a second terminal end of the barrel, the disk-shaped segment being configured to be fixed in the barrel so as to partition an inside of the barrel, the disk-shaped segment being configured to be at an intermediate position of the plurality of full-flight screws and on a downstream side of an input port of the multi-screw kneader for supplying the kneading material into the barrel, an upstream shape, an upstream diameter, and an upstream size of each of the plurality of full-flight screws on an upstream side of the disk-shaped segment being the same as a downstream shape, a downstream diameter, and a downstream size of each of the plurality of full-flight screws on a downstream side of the disk-shaped segment, respectively, and the disk-shaped segment comprising:

• a disk body with holes configured to serve as flow channels of the kneading material and material;
• a plurality of rolling bearings mounted on the disk body;
• a plurality of rings fitted to the plurality of rolling bearings, respectively, such that mating structures on respective shafts of the plurality of full-flight screws are configured to be fitted to mating structures of the plurality of rings, respectively, whereby the disk-shaped segment is configured to suppress leakage of the kneading material between the plurality of rolling bearings,
• wherein:
• the mating structures of the plurality of rings are holes with cross sections configured to match the mating structures on the respective shafts of the plurality of full-flight screws, respectively;
• the disk-shaped segment is configured to be adjacent to the helical thread of each of the plurality of full-flight screws on both the upstream side of the disk-shaped segment and the downstream side of the disk-shaped segment;
• and
• the holes of the disk body are constantly in communication with both the upstream side of the disk-shaped segment and the downstream side of the disk-shaped segment.