Compounding

In compounding, various materials (polymers, additives, etc.) are mixed and melted—generally in an extruder of some type—then pelletized. Most compounding extruders purchased nowadays are of the twin-screw corotating/intermeshing variety, though counterrotating twins are used for some applications. Compounding extrusion lines are typically equipped with gravimetric feeding systems that dose materials into the extruders at very specific rates. In certain applications, extruders are equipped with vent ports that pull unwanted moisture and other volatiles from the polymer stream.

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ESSENTIAL READING

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Multiscrew

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Barrel Layout

In twin-screw compounding, most engineers recognize the benefits of being able to configure screw elements. Here’s what you need to know about sequencing barrel sections.  

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best practices

What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder

Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.

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Multiscrew

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder for Mixing: Part 5

Understand the differences between distributive and dispersive mixing, and how you can promote one or the other in your screw design.

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Know-How

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder: Part 3

The melting mechanism in a twin-screw extruder is quite different from that of a single screw. Design of the melting section affects how the material is melted, as well as melt temperature and quality.

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Multiscrew

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder -- Part 2

Follow these tips to configure your twin-screw elements to promote feeding and solids conveying.

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Commodity Resins

Improving Twin-Screw Compounding of Reinforced Polyolefins

Compounders face a number of processing challenges when incorporating a high loading of low-bulk-density mineral filler into polyolefins. Here are some possible solutions.

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Blending & Dosing

Latest Compounding News And Updates

Compounding

Geon Buys Medical Compounder Foster

Move intended to broaden GEON’s portfolio in the medical market.    

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Compounding

Dual-Shaft Mixer for Robust Industrial Mixing

Units are engineered for wide-ranging densities and viscosities up to several hundred thousand centipoise.  

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Compounding

Fixed Tank Dual Shaft Mixer/Pressure Reactor

This mixer is said to be well suited for processes that require meticulous control over mixing, temperature and pressure in a compact and portable module.   

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Recycling

Compact Extruder for High-Output Compounding, Recycling

Sleek, flexible machine can process PET up to 6 tons per hour.  

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Compounding

Versatile, Cost-Effective High Solids Mixer

PLC controls allow operators to program and run recipes based on speed, time and hydraulic lift raise/lower cycles.   

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Compounding

Farrel Pomini, Lummus Team on Pyrolysis Technology

Mixer’s novel capabilities are said to be the key to success of partnership developing pyrolysis technology.

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Featured Posts

Multiscrew

Understanding 'Boundary Conditions' in Twin-Screw Compounding

In twin-screw compounding, the objective is generally to produce the highest quality product at the maximum strand. But sometimes there are operating parameters that prevent this objective from being realized.  

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Multiscrew

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Barrel Layout

In twin-screw compounding, most engineers recognize the benefits of being able to configure screw elements. Here’s what you need to know about sequencing barrel sections.  

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sustainability

Research Deems Bioplastics, Wood Pulp a Sustainable, Economic Alternative for Rigid Packaging

Farrel Pomini and FPInnovations produce biodegradable compound for molding, extrusion and thermoforming applications.

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Extrusion

What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder

Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.

Read More
Recycling

Sirmax Adapts Integrated Recycling Approach to US Supply Conditions

Integrating compounding and recycling to leverage untapped postindustrial recycling feedstocks.

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Compounding

Small Batches, Big Success

With no minimum order and an impeccable record of on-time delivery, Precision Color Compounds is becoming a force in the color masterbatch ´óÏó´«Ã½.

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FAQ: Compounding

How can I optimize my twin-screw compounding process?

We identify problems in compounding as “chronic” if the results are the same every time a particular formulation is run. For these problems, the treatment requires redesigning the screw configuration or modifying the compounding process. This is the only way to cure such problems.

Many new players have emerged in the biopolymer space with new materials and many new formulations. Co-rotating twin-screw extruders provide excellent material mixing capabilities for all polymers, including biopolymers. You should consider your machinery supplier as a development partner to achieve your goals in the areas of melt and mix quality, production rates, and other parameters, regardless of formulation. Make sure your machinery supplier has the facilities and the know-how to help you test material formulations and improve your processes.

Pelletizers are essential components in resin manufacture, compounding, masterbatch production, and recycling. A high-volume system that is appropriate for a polymerization plant will be very different from one that suits the needs of a toll compounder. One that can produce micropellets for use in masterbatch may not be the best choice for processing post-consumer regrind. Here are some different types of pelletizers.

  • UNDERWATER PELLETIZERS
  • WATERRING PELLETIZERS
  • STRAND PELLETIZERS
Plastics Size Reduction
Process Cooling

Compounding Supplier Categories