MACHINERY | ALTERNATIVE EXTRUDERS
However, the machinery maker sees consider- able scope for development of new applications. “We live in an age with an unprecedented rate of technological advancement,” says Dino Kudrass, Head of Design and Engineering at Buss. “Poly- mers play a vital role in these technological developments as their material properties can be engineered and fine-tuned to specific require- ments. This development also raises the bar for the manufacturing and processing demands of these polymers. These demands include the accurate control of critical processing parameters, such as temperature, shear rate, residence time, fill levels and pressure. Furthermore, the demand for reproducibility, data logging and operating safety also provides challenges for machine manufactur- ers, which is an area that Buss Kneaders are ideally suited for.” Kudrass says that emerging technologies — such as electric mobility and renewable energy genera- tion — are driving the development of new polymer compounds. “These polymers demand improved compounding solutions as they place more stringent requirements on their processing machinery. Such requirements include more homogenous material properties for electrical insulators, minimal degradation of semiconductor fillers, and higher processing temperatures for engineering thermoplastics, for example,” he says.
Right: The CK45 Continuous Kneader extruder from X-Compound
Sensitive solutions Alternative compounders, such as the kneader extruder designs developed by Buss, are often highly suitable for applications where the com- pound exhibits high shear sensitivity. “A compara- tively homogenous shear rate distribution through- out the mixing zone has always been a strong point of the Buss Kneader,” says Kudrass. “In addition to this, shear sensitive polymers are often subject to thermal degradation. Here, the Buss Kneader provides very accurate measurement of the melt temperature through its stationary kneading pins, which protrude deep into the melt flow. For high fill level applications, such as masterbatch or semicon, the excellent distributive mixing charac- teristics of Buss Kneaders often provide a clear advantage over alternative compounders.” The latest addition to the Buss product line is
the Compeo. “Our new Compeo machine series aims to satisfy the compounding industry’s current and future high-end needs. The machine’s flexibil- ity and configurability allow customers to quickly adapt to the challenges ahead, no matter what these might be. The Compeo has proved to be a capable and yet robust machine, which combines
26 COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2020
www.compoundingworld.com
the best of the Buss Kneaders’ technology from the past, while setting new standards for the future,” Kudrass says. The Compeo machine offers processing
temperatures of up to 400°C, electric liquid tempering, and a variety of feed systems including side and top-feeders. A range of discharge systems is also available, such as conical twin screw, single screw or gear pump, as well as a large range of processing elements, variable housing configura- tions and different process lengths. Construction materials with extremely high abrasive resistance can be used. Buss adds that the new machine also provides extensive data acquisition. The latest addition to the line is the Compeo
176, which allows for throughput rates of up to 12 tonnes/h. The company says that several of these large, high throughput models have been sold.
Filler flexibility According to X-Compound, manufacturer of the Continuous Kneader, with polymer compounds finding an increasing number of applications where they are called on to replace traditional materials such as wood, steel or glass, the need to adapt properties to compete successfully has never been greater. “In order to be able to compete with these materials, fillers based on ceramics, metals or glass can be added to achieve these demanding properties,” says Dr Karsten Kretschmer, X-Com- pound Sales Director. “The performance of polymer compounds is best when the dispersion and distribution of these fillers in the polymer matrix is optimised. From the view of a compounding machine manufacturer, the
IMAGE: X-COMPOUND
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