NEWS | NPE REVIEW
addition to speed – a full cycle takes around six minutes but melt flow is only impacted for around 90 seconds – this arrange- ment also relies on direct metal-to-metal contact, so eliminates the need for seals that can often create flow path interruptions. Gear pumps allow
improved control of the extrusion process and can lift output rates. However, in many modern designs the polymer melt acts as a lubricant for the gears and bearings, which is not a viable option when process- ing rigid PVC due to its shear and thermal sensitivity. Macnamara said the new
Chlorinated Gear Pump is designed to draw heat away from the gears and bear- ings. Body and side plates are jacketed for heat transfer media, extended gear shafts help move heat energy out from the bearings, and polymer used for lubrication is bled constantly (amounting to 0.01% of total throughput). “It took some hard work and several modifications but our product will now allow customers running a thermally sensitive polymer to take advantage of the die pressure stabilisation, increased output, and reduction of extruder pressure benefits of a gear pump,” he said. Both products are late
stage prototypes but some gear pumps are already in beta trials, with screen- changer tests due to commence shortly, says PSI. The company expects to be able to put production versions on the market within six months.
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Conductive developments US compounder Modern Dispersions made two new additions to its range of electrically conductive masterbatches, targeted at producers of anti-static trays, boxes and pallets for use in the electronics sector and parts for use in ATEX environments. “There seems to be a
trend to masterbatch in this market,” said vice president Jano Kozma, on the deci- sion to extend its master- batch options. “It can be more cost effective if you are prepared to take on responsibility for handling the masterbatch and it gives you more flexibility.” One of the new grades,
CF-238, is a universal masterbatch suitable for injection moulding and extrusion of PE, PP, PVC and PLA. Addition levels are typi- cally in the range from 40-50%. (The second new product was for injection moulding only.) The masterbatch pro- cesses well – as long as care is taken to avoid high shear. “When running any conductive compound you can work the conductivity
out of the polymer and you need to be conscious of that even with a masterbatch,” Kozma said.
Modern Dispersions is also carrying out work with nano-materials. PP-20GO is a graphene oxide filled PP development grade that promises improved thermal conductivity, tensile strength and barrier performance.
PTI’s ‘tuck-under’ option Processing Technologies International (PTI) intro- duced a ‘tuck-under’ motor option for its high perfor- mance Super-G HighSpeed extruders, reducing machine footprint by around 33%. Introduced last year, the
Super-G single screw extrud- er is designed for process- ing of PP and PS. Features include an oversized feed section to better handle high regrind volumes, easy clean vent chamber and high efficiency air-cooled heater and blower. The units also use PTI’s Super-G Lobe screw design. The tuck-under motor option is available on the SGHS3000-36D and SGH3000-42D models, which are equipped with
500hp and 600hp motors respectively and offer maximum screw speeds of 1,000 and 1,200 rpm. PTI said a number of machines are already in operation with customers using the tuck- under motor arrangement. PTI has a Super-G HighSpeed extrusion line installed in its newly commissioned 1,400m2 demonstration centre at its facility at Aurora in Illinois, US. The centre was part of a $10m investment that increased production space by 3,700m2 ity by 50%.
and lifted capac- PSI’s ESC screenchanger is designed for use with rigid PVC FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | June 2018
Polyolefin return Some of the largest polymer producers were also out in force, with one in particular marking its ‘return’ to the North American market: Shell Polymers, which has not produced polyolefins on the continent since 2005, has been tempted back by the attractive economics of shale. The company has begun construction of a 1.6m tonnes/year polyethylene (PE) plant in Pennsylvania in the USA – and had a large presence at NPE. It stopped producing polyolefins in North America when it sold its stake in the Basell joint venture with BASF (the business was merged two years later into LyondellBasell). Now, however, Shell is returning with its new plant. Located in Beaver County, 45km north-west of Pittsburgh, it includes an ethane cracker and three PE polymerisation units that will produce HDPE and LLDPE grades. Con- struction began in the fourth quarter of 2017, with the first products set to reach the
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PHOTO: PSI
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