Dewatering machine and process

A method of dewatering for reducing moisture of at least one of a polymer and an elastomer, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dewatering machine including a generally solid barrel;
• disposing a pair of counter-rotating screws in said barrel, at least a portion of said screws being intermeshing, and wherein the screws include a geometry that is closed axially and cross-channel;
• rotating said screws with drive means;
• feeding said at least one of said polymer and said elastomer into an opening formed in said barrel and into said screws;
• fusing particles of said at least one of said polymer and said elastomer together to reduce an amount of fines escaping said machine by transferring energy from said screw rotation to the at least one of said polymer and said elastomer;
• after said particles have been fused, removing moisture from said at least one of said polymer and said elastomer with at least one mechanical filter connected to said barrel;
• and
• reducing said moisture of said at least one polymer from up to 40 percent water by weight to less than 0.5 percent water by weight and of said at least one elastomer from up to 50 percent water by weight to less than 3.0 percent water by weight.