PROCESS OF CONTINUOUSLY BLENDING, MOLDING AND CURING HEAT CURABLE POLYMERIC COMPOUNDS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A process of increasing the output and other efficiencies and benefits in continuous extrusion manufacturing operations, including blending and plasticizing, molding to shape and curing heat curable polymeric compounds to a thermostat condition. The process comprises the continuous coincidental mixing and heating of heat curable polymeric compounds, raising the temperature thereof up to substantially the level of their curing temperatures, and the consecutive forming to shape and curing of the shaped polymeric compounds to a thermostat condition. The process is primarily carried out within an extruder or equivalent continuous forming apparatus, and any additional heat needed to achieve or accelerate the attainment of curing temperatures, or to complete the conversion to a cured thermoset condition of the polymeric compounds can be readily applied by any external source of heat. This process is especially suitable and effective in the manufacture of elongated electrical conductors or wires coated or insulated with thermosetting polymeric materials or compositions comprising the same. The invention also includes a novel apparatus for the effective and complete performance of the process.