Abstract:
Process and apparatus for the uniform mixing of a polyamide melt with a pigment dispersed in a liquid medium soluble in the polyamide wherein the melt is divided, immediately after introduction of the liquid pigment dispersion as a thin liquid stream, into planar segments or displaced layers having a maximum thickness of about 1,500 microns, preferably 20 to 850 microns, using a paddle wheel stirring mechanism at the inlet end of an elongated mixing vessel tapering radially inwardly down to its outlet or discharge end. This invention generally relates to a process for continuously mixing a pigment dispersion into a high molecular weight organic polymer which is in the molten state, for example nylon 6 (polycaprolactam), nylon 6,6 (polyhexamethylene adipamide) or other polyamides, particularly at the conclusion of a continuous polymerization or polycondensation process.