NEWS


Covid hits EU plastics


demand Estimates by trade association PlasticsEurope indicate that production and demand for plastics were stable globally in 2020 but fell in Europe as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It said worldwide plastics


production in 2020 reached 367m tonnes, 0.3% down on the 2019 total. China’s share increased from 31% to 32%, while North America’s remained stable at around 19%. European production, however, fell by more than 5% to 55m tonnes, taking its share from 16% to 15%. European converter demand was also about 5% down and, at 48m tonnes, was its weakest result since 2014. This decrease was largely driven by packaging and automotive. � www.plasticseurope.org


Entek ramps up torque


US compounding machin- ery maker Entek has introduced the first in a new line of high output twin screw extruders – the HT (High Torque) series – that offer a torque density of 18Nm/cm3


with a Do/Di


ratio of 1.61, which it claims results in the highest free volume in its class. The new design is aimed


at the commodity com- pounding and masterbatch industry, where customers typically require medium-to- large batch production sizes and high production rates are especially important. The HT design is avail- able initially in a 72mm diameter version. Entek Technical Processing Manager Dean Elliott said typical production through- puts for this first variant are expected to range from 1,800 to 3,200 kg/h, with 3,900 kg/h possible in some specific applications. The launch marks Entek’s entry into a new market


IMAGE: ENTEK


The HT72 is the first in a new 18 Nm/cm3


High Torque machine series


sector, said VP of Sales Linda Campbell. “We now have an ideal solution for those needing high throughput for continuous production of large batches of materials,” she said. “We did extensive market research and realised this size [72mm] is pretty popular in this market.” The HT72 machine has


been extensively lab-tested. Campbell said she hoped to have the first operating in a production location soon. Also new from the company is its recently- patented Vacuum Feed Technology (VFT). “VFT is the solution if a compound- er is challenged by a


process that is volumetri- cally limited when process- ing low bulk density powdered materials,” said Elliott. VFT is a licenced technol-


ogy that is available on any of Entek’s twin screw extruders. Developed for use when compounding fluffy materials, it does not require open atmospheric vents so overcomes the problem of powder spewing when running at high production rates. “Processors can achieve much higher throughput, as much as twice the output rate without VFT,” according to Elliott. � www.entek.com


Coperion supplies ZSK for chemical recycling


Coperion has supplied a ZSK 18 Megalab twin-screw extruder to Ghent University, in Belgium, for research into chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste. The machine, which offers a throughput of up to 10 kg/h, is equipped with a Coperion K-Tron feeder and vacuum unit. According to Coperion, its twin screw extruder technology is particularly well suited for chemical recycling of plastics and can typically produce a homogenous and devolatilised melt with a temperature of up to 350°C within 30s. The ZSK also allows additives such as catalysts to be incorporated easily


while residual water or by products from PVC contaminants in the waste material can be reliably extracted via vacuum devolatilisation. In the Ghent R&D programme, the prepared polymer is delivered to a reactor,


Coperion says twin screw technology is well suited to chemical recycling


6 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2021


where it is further heated to 500°C. This results in pyrolysis leading to a broad mixture of liquid and gaseous phase hydrocarbons. Most of the inorganic compo- nents remain in the reactor sump while the organic hydrocarbons evaporate and are recovered for transformation into monomers, syngas or other marketable products. � www.coperion.com


www.compoundingworld.com


IMAGE: COPERION


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