A flow visualization technique for the determination of velocity profiles in dies with circular cross sections

Abstract

A unique retainer/transparent quartz die assembly was designed and fabricated to fit on a melt extruder. It permitted visualization of polymer flow behavior during melt spinning. Tracer particles were mixed with polymer chips prior to extrusion. A laser beam was directed through a lens system and used to illuminate the tracer particles in the melt only in a thin, vertical cross section of the transparent quartz die. Streak photography was used to determine the cross‐sectional velocity distribution of the melt as it passed through the die.