ABSTRACT
Extruder is used for the performance of chemical reactions in the manufacturing and processing of polymers. Machines of that kind are used in both, the polymerization as well as the modification of polymers for example the graft copolymerization. An optimization of the extrusion process using the polymerization of caprolactam as an example and the development of new variations of processing the polyamide that has been polymerized in the extruder ist carried out. The ZSK extruder is a system which is open in the longitudinal direction. As opposed to the counter rotating twin screw extruder the conveyance of material results from drag forces. The extruder has to take on a large number of functions in order to perform the polymerization. The fundamental assumption for the application of the extruder as a reactor is the comprehension of the mechanisms performing in the extruder. The chemical mechanisms of the reactions are wellknown in several cases.
