Compounding

Multiscrew

Torque & Speed How Much Is Enough?

You may be thinking of buying one of the new ‘high-torque/high-speed’ twin-screw compounders in order to raise your output without going to a larger machine. But how much torque or speed do you really need? Underusing a high-powered extruder wastes investment dollars. So look carefully at what is required for the materials you run.

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The Right Way & The Wrong Way To Add Materials Conveying Capacity

Whether you're expanding your current plant or consolidating operations and moving equipment from one location to another, you will need to make sure that your material-handling system delivers the productivity you expect.

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In-Line Compounding of Long-Glass/PP Gains Strength in Automotive Molding

Another approach to long-fiber thermoplastic (LFT) molding is gaining credibility for producing a range of structural and semi-structural automotive parts. It is called direct LFT processing, and is already widely practiced in Europe.

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Compounding (K 2001 Preview)

Compounding equipment at K presents not so much new technology as new modifications or combinations of equipment to improve output and conserve space.

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Additives

New Compounding Options Strengthen Pull of Molded Magnets

Thermoplastic polymer-bonded magnets are exerting a stronger pull on designers of motors, valves, sensors, and other electronic devices used in cars, telecommunications devices, and large appliances. The attraction is strongest in applications demanding greater design freedom than is offered by conventional magnets sintered from 100% metal powder.

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Multiscrew

Compounding & Mixing

For the second straight NPE show, the focus in compounding is on twin-screw machines that deliver more speed and torque—thus more output—than ever before. No fewer than six suppliers of twin-screw compounders are showing such machines. There’s something to see in in-line systems as well. And there’s plenty of news in PVC mixers and pelletizing equipment, too.

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Additives

NPE Newsfinder: Chemicals & Additives

Lots of new additive and color concentrates will be displayed at NPE 2000. There will also be new pigments, including some for laser marking. Several new processing aids and modifiers for thermoplastics and thermosets are slated to debut. Also look for new mold releases and a purging agent for optical disc resins. Interesting new fillers include a new electroconductive wollastonite and high-impact wollastonite grades for automotive applications.

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NPE Newsfinder: High Volume Thermoplastics

New octene and hexene LLDPEs, as well as HDPEs based on new metallocene and non-metallocene catalysts, will make their debut in Chicago next month. Among them will be the first metallocene HDPE film resin in North America.

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Thermoforming

Processors' Wish List: What's Your Million-Dollar Dream?

How would you spend a windfall of $10,000, $100,000, or $1 million added to your operating budget? Here’s what owners and managers of plastics plants said they would do with this dream cash.

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Compounding

Wood-Fiber Adds Stiffness and Value To Tight-Tolerance Tubes

Hollow tubing with a high loading of wood fiber is one of the newest products—and one of the trickiest—in the booming ´óÏó´«Ã½ of wood-filled thermoplastic extrusion.

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Plastics Size Reduction
Blending & Dosing