SCREW MACHINE AND METHOD FOR INDUCTIVE SCREW HEATING IN A HEATING ZONE

The invention relates to a screw machine (1) which has an inductive heating device (39) in order to prepare a plastic material (2). The inductive heating device (39) is used to heat the plastic material (2) in a heating zone (25). At least one housing portion (6) in the heating zone (25) is at least partly made of an electromagnetically transparent material which is non-magnetic and electrically non-conductive, whereas at least one treating element (33') is at least partly made of an electrically conductive material. The inductive heating device (39) generates a magnetic alternating field when preparing the plastic material (2), and the alternating field results in eddy current losses in the at least one treating element (33'), resulting in a heating of the at least one treating element (33'). The plastic material (2) is heated on the at least one heated treating element (33'), in particular until the plastic material is melted. The screw machine (1) allows a simple and efficient melting process of the plastic material (2), thereby allowing a substantial reduction of a mechanical energy input and thus a substantial reduction of a related wear of the screw machine (1).