Kneading element and related articles

Abstract

A modified kneading element for a screw extruder, peripherally congruent, aligned, and contiguous with a cross-sectional profile of a modified conveying element, includes a central portion defining a root diameter having a shaft receiving bore defined therein; and at least one lobe extending radially from the central portion, each lobe having an outer periphery ridge and first and second lateral sidewalls, wherein one of the lateral sidewalls of each lobe is concave between the outer periphery ridge and the central portion. Kneading blocks including such kneading elements and screw extruders including such kneading blocks are also provided.

1 . A screw extruder comprising: 
 at least one modified conveying element having a particular, non-conventional, cross-sectional profile at at least one end of the conveying element; and    at least one kneading element contiguously aligned with and adjacent to the conveying element, wherein the kneading element has a cross-sectional profile peripherally congruent to the cross-sectional profile of the conveying element at an end adjacent to the conveying element.    
   
   
       2 . The screw extruder of  claim 1 , wherein the screw extruder is a twin screw extruder and wherein both screws include at least one kneading element having a cross-sectional profile peripherally congruent to the cross sectional profile of a conveying element adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       3 . The screw extruder of  claim 1 , wherein the screw extruder includes an S conveying element aligned and contiguous with an S kneading element such that the cross sectional profile of the S conveying element at one end thereof is peripherally congruent with a cross-sectional profile of the S kneading element at an adjacent end.  
   
   
       4 . The screw extruder of  claim 1 , wherein the screw extruder includes an SS conveying element aligned and contiguous with an SS kneading element such that the cross sectional profile of the SS conveying element at one end thereof is peripherally congruent with a cross-sectional profile of the SS kneading element at an adjacent.  
   
   
       5 . A screw having a configuration formed by a modified conveying element contiguous with a modified kneading element wherein a cross-sectional profile of said modified conveying element is peripherally congruent, aligned, and contiguous with a cross-sectional profile of said modified kneading element.  
   
   
       6 . A modified kneading element that has a peripherally congruent cross-sectional profile when aligned and contiguous with a cross-sectional profile of a modified conveying element.