Influence of the design solutions of extruder screw mixing tip on selected properties of wheat bran-polyethylene biocomposite

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of the extruder screw design solution-the intensive mixing tip used-on the course of the extrusion process and the properties of the obtained biocomposite extrudate. A lignocellulosic wheat bran biocomposite based on a low-density polyethylene matrix was extruded. Three mixing tips of the screw were used interchangeably: apineapple tip, a cut rings tip, and a Maddock tip. The experimental tests carried out included the production of an extrudate with a mass content of bran altered within the range from 10% to 50%. Processing properties such as the melt flow rate (MFR) and mass flow rate of the extruded biocomposite were determined. Selected physical, mechanical, and structural properties of the biocomposite extrudate obtained with the use of the three tested mixing tips at five bran contents were tested.