TECHNOLOGY | PACKAGING


closed cells that are 5 to 50 microns diameter. The cell structure of the foamed material imparts higher mechanical properties at lower densities than are seen with conventional foaming processes. Yizumi says that its FoamPro solution used with


PLA material contributes to better fluidity and easier part moulding. The FoamPro process can also provide the ability to vary product wall thickness, improve part stability and reduce part weight by 5% and clamp force requirements by 20%. “Microcellular foaming packaging is thicker, stronger and more heat-insulated than conven- tional injection moulding packaging products at the same weight,” says Liang. Yizumi has demonstrated production of a PLA


Above: Yizumi developed its FoamPro system in partnership with Trexel


Right: Cabopol has developed Biomind PHA compounds for coffee capsules which have OK Compost and OK Home Compost certification


growing in the packaging industry, with packaging manufacturers asking for technological break- throughs that optimise product design. A challenge with PLA processing is its melt index, typically ranging from 3-5 Melt Flow Rate (MFR) and having poor fluidity which presents moulding difficulties. Yizumi has continued development of its FoamPro microcellular foaming technology, developed in 2017, as a solution for these applications. The FoamPro technology, developed initially for automotive and home appliance applications, is an adaptation of the MuCell microcellular system from US-based Trexel. The material foaming process can reduce product weight, clamping require- ments, warpage, and cycle times. In partnership with Trexel, new


aggregate and screw solutions are continuously being developed to improve the robustness of the FoamPro system as well as the melt properties of the materials used, says Joe Liang, North American Sales Director, Overseas Business Development Center, Injection Molding Machine Division. Yizumi has increasingly been involved with packaging projects utilising FoamPro since 2021. The FoamPro process heats and pressurises a non-flammable gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide to a supercritical state, in which the gas behaves like a fluid. The supercritical fluid, gener- ated by proprietary MuCell equipment, is injected into the barrel of the injection machine in a precisely metered fashion, allowing molten plastic and fluidised gas to mix and blend into a single- phase solution. The supercritical fluid is dissolved into the melt under high pressure. Inside the mould the gas expands to form highly uniform,


: C A 34 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2023


microcellular container lightweighted with Foam- Pro. IML was incorporated into the moulding process as an example of flexible design. According to sources, an iteration of the Foam-


Pro technology is designed with a special tempera- ture control unit from Single Temperiertechnik of Germany to provide rapid heating/cooling to the mould, for additional cycle time savings. In addition, Yizumi also demonstrated high- speed packaging injection moulding with IML automated labeling system and auxiliaries in the production of a deep-cavity silicone cartridge produced using a low-fluidity HDPE material. Its PAC350 high-speed injection machine moulded a 225 mm, 48 g silicone cartridge in an eight-cavity mould with IML in a 20 s cycle. Yizumi adopted an independent cavity design, sliding block and needle-valve hot runner system in the mould to ensure high-quality and efficient production. A high-precision labeling robot conducted accurate label


pick-up, delivery, and placement into the mould cavities.


Portuguese compounder Cabopol has extended its Biomind portfolio of


biodegradable and compostable compounds suited for use in coffee capsule packaging solu- tions, with a new PHA formulation. Its new Biomind PHA compounds are derived from renewable resources for sustainability and provide resistance and barrier properties that ensure product integrity but also break down naturally in both soil and water, minimising environmental impact. The new formulation offers companies that


produce coffee capsules superior functionality, high-performance and environmentally responsible


www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: YIZUMI


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