# US 8,770,824 B2 · Extruder and process for preparing a mixture of polymer and diluent

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- Number: US 8,770,824 B2
- Document ID: US8770824B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/681,695
- Filed: 2008-10-20
- Published: 2011-04-21
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2007-10-19
- Assignees: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Tetsuro Nogata; Soichiro Yamaguchi; Norimitsu Kaimai; Junko Takita
- Inventors: Tetsuro Nogata; Soichiro Yamaguchi; Norimitsu Kaimai; Kotaro Takita
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770824B2

## CPC

- B29B 7/482: {provided with screw parts in addition to other mixing parts, e.g. paddles, gears, discs}
- B29B 7/483: {the other mixing parts being discs perpendicular to the screw axis}
- B29B 7/488: {Parts, e.g. casings, sealings; Accessories, e.g. flow controlling or throttling devices (discharging B29B7/582; feeding B29B7/60)}
- B29B 7/489: {Screws (B29B7/482 takes precedence)}
- B29B 7/60: for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material {(B29B7/7615 takes precedence; feeding predetermined amounts for mixing in general B01F35/714)}
- B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films
- B29C 48/2564: {Screw parts}
- B29C 48/395: using screws surrounded by a cooperating barrel, e.g. single screw extruders
- B29C 48/402: {the screws having intermeshing parts}
- B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a twin screw extruder for preparing a polymeric solution. The extruder includes an elongated housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, an extruder shaft length L and a pair of interconnecting bores disposed within the housing, a pair of elongated extruder shafts, each having an axis of rotation, the pair of elongated extruder shafts disposed within the pair of interconnecting bores and drivable in at least one direction of rotation, a plurality of extruder screw segments positioned along the pair of elongated extruder shafts in a fixed angular relationship therewith, the plurality of extruder screw segments selected to form multiple extruder stages. The invention also relates to a process for extruding a mixture of polymer and diluent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A twin screw extruder for preparing a polymeric solution, the extruder comprising:
(a) an elongated housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, an extruder shaft length L and a pair of interconnecting bores disposed within said housing;
(b) a pair of elongated extruder shafts, each having an axis of rotation, said pair of elongated extruder shafts disposed within said pair of interconnecting bores and drivable in at least one direction of rotation;
(c) a plurality of extruder screw segments positioned along said pair of elongated extruder shafts in a fixed angular relationship therewith, said plurality of extruder screw segments selected to form multiple extruder stages, said multiple extruder stages comprising an inlet stage, a mixing stage, an outlet stage, and a dispersion stage,
(d) a material inlet adjacent said inlet end of said elongated barrel for introducing at least one polymer; and
(e) a first fluid inlet located within said dispersion stage for introducing a solvent;
wherein:
the inlet stage has a length Li of about 10% L≦Li≦about 20% L, the dispersion stage has a length Ld of about 15% L≦Ld≦about 25% L, the mixing stage has a length Lm of about 35% L ≦Lm≦about 45 L, and the outlet stage has a length Lo of about 20% L≦Lo≦about 30% L;
the inlet stage comprises a first forward full flight screw segment having a length of 0.75 D, a second forward full flight screw segment having a length of 1.00 D, and six third forward full flight screw segments, each having a length of 0.75 D;
the dispersion stage comprises eleven forward kneading segments, each having a length of 0.50 D, and two neutral kneading segments, each having a length of 0.50 D;
the mixing stage comprises a full flight screw segment, having a length of 0.75 D, a pair of neutral kneading segments, each having a length of 0.50 D, a forward kneading segment having a length of 050 D, a plurality of gear kneading segments, each having a length of 1.50 D, and a plurality of forward kneading segments; and
the outlet stage comprises five first forward full flight screw segments, each having a length of 1.5 D, and a second forward full flight screw segment having a length of 1.00 D and a pair of third full flight screw segments each having a length of 0.75 D.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The twin screw extruder of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid inlet located within said mixing stage for introducing a solvent.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The twin screw extruder of claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation are substantially parallel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The twin screw extruder of claim 1, wherein said elongated extruder shafts are co-rotating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The twin screw extruder of claim 1, wherein said elongated extruder shafts are counter-rotating.