What is CALENDERCAD?

CALENDERCAD is a software package that solves the lubrication approximation equations that describe polymer flow in the calender nip region. It predicts the pressure distribution, torques, and separating forces between the rolls. It has been used for studying the calendering of PVC, PMMA, and PP.

What is the numerical method used?

The lubrication approximation is used to simplify the momentum equation. The shear thinning viscosity, which is a function of temperature, and slip at the wall are included. The non-linear differential equation is solved iteratively using the Runge-Kutta method.

How can we determine the performance of different polymer grades?

It is easy to introduce the different parameters necessary to describe the viscosity and the wall slip behavior. Roll size and speed, gap in the nip region, and cylinder temperature can also be changed in the program.

How do the predictions compare to experimental data and real-life situations?

CALENDERCAD has been compared to experimental data involving PVC, PMMA, and PP and has given excellent results, for both laboratory and full-size industrial calendering lines.

CALENDERCAD is a DOS-based software package. It can be run directly on PCs with Windows 95/98.
For PCs with Windows NT/ME/2000/XP, Polydynamics will provide a custom bootable floppy diskette or bootable CD-ROM for running the program.

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References

J. Vlachopoulos and A.N. Hrymak, "Calendering of PVC: Theory and Experiments", Poly. Eng. Sci., 20, 725-731, (1980).

J. Vlachopoulos and E. Mitsoulis, "Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in Calendering", Chapter in Transport Phenomena in Polymeric Systems (R.A. Mashelkar, Editor), 79-104, Ellis Horwood/Halsted/Wiley (1989).