Method of mixing fiber loaded compounds using a Y-mix cycle
A Y-mix cycle has been discovered to achieve proper quality and consistency when mixing heavy fiber loaded compounds within a polymer compound. The Y-mix cycle may include the following steps: (1) mixing a first portion of a polymer with a first component mix that includes at least one filler to create a first blend; (2) mixing a second portion of the polymer (or a portion of a different polymer) with a second component mix that includes at least one fiber to create a second blend; and, (3) mixing the first blend with the second blend to create the polymer compound.
1 . A method comprising the steps of:
mixing a first portion of a polymer with a first component mix that includes at least one filler to create a first blend;
mixing a second portion of the polymer or a portion of a different polymer with a second component mix that includes at least one fiber to create a second blend; and, mixing the first blend with the second blend to create a polymer compound.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
using the polymer compound to form at least one transmission belt component.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the three mixing steps occurs in a Banbury™ mixer.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein each of the three mixing steps comprise the step of mixing in a Banbury™ mixer.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein each of the three mixing steps occur in the same Banbury™ mixer.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the three mixing steps occurs in an extruder.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the three mixing steps occurs in a mill.
8 . A transmission belt having a component made by the process of:
mixing a first portion of a polymer with a first component mix that includes at least one filler to create a first blend;
mixing a second portion of the polymer or a portion of a different polymer with a second component mix that includes at least one fiber to create a second blend;
mixing the first blend with the second blend to create a polymer compound; and, forming the component from the polymer compound.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the three mixing steps occurs in a Banbury™ mixer.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein each of the three mixing steps comprise the step of mixing in a Banbury™ mixer.
11 . The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the three mixing steps occurs in an extruder.
12 . The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the three mixing steps occurs in a mill.