COEFFICIENTS OF DYNAMIC FRICTION FOR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

The coefficient of dynamic friction is often the controlling factor for solids conveying, pressure generation, and thermal decomposition of a resin in the feed section of a single-screw plasticating extruder. The coefficients of friction are, however, very poorly understood, and the interpretation of the measurements are complicated by the dissipation of frictional energy at the sliding interface. A new instrument was recently built to help understand dynamic friction, and a numerical technique was developed to estimate the interface temperature. The coefficients of dynamic friction for a low-density polyethylene resin are presented in this paper as a function of the surface temperature, pressure, and velocity.