Patent ID: 8066423

Claim:
A method for polyolefin production, comprising: directing a polyolefin through a continuous mixer to provide a molten polymer, the continuous mixer comprising: a first housing having two or more non-intermeshing screws contained therein; and a motor directly coupled to the two or more screws and adapted to counter-rotate the two or more screws at a rate of about 600 rpm or more; adding one or more additives to the molten polymer within the first housing; mixing the molten polymer and the one or more additives to provide a mixed polymer comprising the one or more additives at least partially dispersed therein; directing the mixed polymer to a gear pump comprising: a second housing having two or more gears contained therein; and a motor directly coupled to at least one of the two or more gears and adapted to rotate the two or more gears at a rate of about 10 rpm to about 1200 rpm; and pressurizing the mixed polymer within the gear pump to transfer the mixed polymer for further processing.