Mixing by Controlled Continuous Chaotic Advection

Variable speed motor and reduction gear H Polymer A 

Progressive morphology Tapered circular stir rods in oval banel 

A combination of the chaotic mixing mechanism and the selection of an optimum mixing regime enables structures to be obtained at selected parts of the striation-to-droplet structures achieved by Scott and Makosco described in Section 14.5. The chaotic mixing mechanism supports the development of a unidirectional striated ( tape ) structure which provides the multiple layers required for the unidirectional properties required in films for oxygen barrier and impact properties and in some circumstances for electrical properties. The incorporated material can be a masterbatched additive or a second polymer. 

Four examples of extruded cast films from articles by Zumbrunen and co-authors illustrating typical material combinations for which this technique can be applied are  

1) Linear low density films with minimum electrical resistances in both machine and transverse directions were achieved for 2.5 wt% overall carbon black content [35]. 

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