Flow visualization of blending of elastomers and thermoplastics in an internal mixer

Flow visualization of blending elastomers and plastics in an internal mixer is described. This is based on observations from front and transverse glass windows placed on the mixer. This enabled us to investigate the flow behavior of pure polymers during the blending operation. The flow behavior was categorized into four regimes which depend on temperature and the polymer. The flow regimes dominate the phase morphology of blends of ethylene–propylene terpolymer and polystyrene. Various rotor designs used in this study creates different two phase morphology due to various flow fields.