MACHINERY | ALTERNATIVE COMPOUNDERS
Buss has
developed a cost effective single-step process for production of silane-grafted HFFR cable compounds in co-operation with Evonik and Martinswerk
Image: Buss
“In the field of cable insulation, alternative extrud- ers have always played an important role. Continu- ous processes have now also become established, or are about to become established, in the com- pounding of battery and accumulator masses. In these applications, engineering pilot plants provide an important link between basic research and the industrialisation of the processes.”
Bio-based niche Siegenthaler says that bio-based polymers togeth- er with natural additives and reinforcing fibres have become a significant niche over the past few years. “Many of these raw materials are shear and/or temperature sensitive. Alternative compounding systems with moderate shear forces can also have an important role to play here.” He says that future development areas that
Kneading Experts are looking to address include the roll-out of existing experience with some of its cradle-to-cradle projects into other application areas, such as packaging, textiles and automotive. The company is also looking to apply agile meth- ods such as Design Thinking or Effectuation in compound development, as well as developing adapted business models for the compounding industry that take aspects of the sharing economy more deeply into account. Demand for continuous kneading compounders is ongoing and solid, according to equipment developer Buss, which says that applies to both small and large machines. “As well as for PVC, key applications for Buss kneaders continue to include HFFR cable compounds based on high filler loadings, reinforced performance compounds and
28 COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2021
carbon black masterbatch production,” says Dr François Loviat, Head of Process at the company. “Highly beneficial distributive mixing under
relatively mild conditions with optimum tempera- ture control results in outstanding homogeneity with the best performance for shear and tempera- ture sensitive materials of higher viscosity. In addition, biopolymer compounds, for example PLA, and rubber compounds with enhanced silica dispersion for low rolling resistance in a continuous process present great potential for the Buss kneader,” he says. “Compounding fibres in thermoset and thermo- plastic systems also present a promising field for the kneaders. The Buss kneader will be highly attractive for increasingly complex formulations based on sensitive materials, such as biopolymers and recycled materials, to meet future demands in the developing mega trends of sustainability and transportation,” Loviat says. Among recent innovations at Buss is the development of a one-step silane grafting process for moisture-curable halogen-free, flame retardant (HFFR) cable compounds. According to Dr Krischan Jeltsch, Head of Innovation and Digitalisation at Buss, a number of applications require the use of crosslinked material where, for example, superior temperature, wear or oil resistance is required. This is typically the case in the automotive and photo- voltaic industries, as well as in heavy-duty applica- tions such as wind turbines, oil platforms, power plants or industrial environments. He says the main drawback of most crosslinked polyolefin-based cable materials is that they ‘drop’ molten polymer when burning, which contributes
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