Apparatus for continuously producing chemically-modified cellulose and method used in same

An apparatus for continuously producing a cellulose composite resin, comprising:

• a first mechanism for transporting a fine-powder cellulose fiber starting material and a hydrophobizing chemical substance;
• a first extruder having a hopper for introducing the cellulose fiber starting material and the hydrophobizing chemical substance, and having a temperature raising mechanism, a pressure raising mechanism and a degassing mechanism, and moreover having a screw piece for kneading;
• a solvent tank connected to the first extruder;
• a dryer connected to the solvent tank;
• a paraffin tank;
• a mixer connected to the paraffin tank and connected to the dryer via a weighing machine;
• a second extruder connected to the mixer and having a hopper for introducing a thermoplastic resin, and a temperature raising mechanism, a pressure raising mechanism and a degassing mechanism, and moreover having a screw piece for kneading;
• and
• a mechanism introducing a thermoplastic resin into the second extruder.

A method for continuously producing a cellulose composite resin, the method comprising:

• a first step of introducing a fine-powder cellulose fiber starting material and a hydrophobizing chemical substance into a first extruder having a temperature raising mechanism, a pressure raising mechanism and a degassing mechanism, and having a screw piece for kneading, melting the hydrophobizing chemical substance and kneading the hydrophobizing chemical substance and the cellulose, and further allowing the same to react, in order to yield chemically-modified cellulose;
• a second step of discharging the chemically-modified cellulose from the first extruder, introducing the chemically-modified cellulose into a solvent tank and dispersing the chemically-modified cellulose in an organic solvent, in order to yield a fluid dispersion, and thereafter injecting the fluid dispersion into a dryer connected to the solvent tank, and drying the fluid dispersion, in order to separate the chemically-modified cellulose from the organic solvent;
• and
• a third step of mixing the dried chemically-modified cellulose with paraffin, and thereafter kneading the mixture and the thermoplastic resin by introducing the same into a second extruder having a temperature raising mechanism, a pressure raising mechanism and a degassing mechanism, and moreover having a screw piece for kneading.