Recycling extruder touted for efficiency
Plasmac Ltd. of Aylesbury, England, has launched a new series of plastics recycling extruder, the Alpha.
The Alpha incorporates Plasmac's SST screw technology, which the firm said greatly improves production efficiency. The company has cut the screw length by as much as 12 percent on some models, reducing the heat history of the material.
Alpha extruders come in screw diameters of 45-120 millimeters for outputs of 22-1,100 pounds per hour.
Tel. +44 (1902) 373-699, fax +44 (1902) 373-664, e-mail [email protected]
Laser additive allows light-color welding
BASF AG's new plastics additive Lumogen IR allows laser welding to work with any color of polymer, light tones and transparent materials.
The laser additive is the result of research and development by Treffert Group Polymer-Technologie, Rofin-Sinar Technologies and BASF.
Another breakthrough from the firms is the laser welding of transparent and fluorescent-colored polymers. The extent to which laser radiation is absorbed usually is determined by pigments or dyes, and not by the polymer matrix itself, the companies said. There have been problems laser-welding light colors and clears.
BASF's Lumogen IR product line consists of organic near-infrared absorbers, based on the company's colorant technology. The additives are nonionic, free of halogens and heavy metals and nontoxic, making them suitable for welding in medical devices and other sensitive applications, according to the company.
Treffert of Bingen, Germany, has done pioneering compounding work on masterbatches for laser welding of plastics. The Dilas unit of Rofin-Sinar makes the StarWeld diode modules for the laser welder.
Rofin-Sinar has dual headquarters in Plymouth, Mich., and Hamburg, Germany. BASF is based in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Tel. +49 (621) 607-9982, e-mail [email protected]
Moditec granulator detects metal fast
Moditec srl, which makes low-speed granulators in Marennes, France, has introduced technology that stops the rotor on its Goliath GPlus granulator within 40 milliseconds when metal is detected in the cutting chamber.
The feature avoids damage to the cutting chamber and halts the feeding of regrind into the injection molding machine.
In the United States, Moditec is represented by Plastec North America Inc. of Miami.
Tel. (305) 887-6920, fax (305) 883-8254, e-mail [email protected]
Weathering device comes in bigger size
Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC of Chicago introduced its largest Suntest flatbed weathering testing instrument to date, called the Suntest XXL.
The device uses three xenon lamps to simulate the effects of weathering. The XXL has a large, easily accessible chamber that can hold three times as many samples as the Atlas XLS+ instrument, according to the company.
Tel. (773) 327-4520, fax (773) 327-5787, e-mail [email protected]
Machine maker EOS has improved nylon
EOS GmbH, a Munich, Germany-based firm that makes laser-sintering machines for rapid prototyping, has rolled out an improved nylon material called PrimePart, designed for direct production of end-use parts.
EOS also launched an aluminum-filled material, called Alumide, to produce parts that require a metallic look, good finishing properties and high stiffness. It competes with die-cast materials in such uses as parts for Formula 1 racing cars, or small-series tools and fixtures for part production.
The company said it is developing laser-sintering materials using fire-retardant, high-impact-strength and filled materials, and is working on automated methods to smooth part surfaces by grinding, coating and polishing.
Tel. +49 (89) 893-360, fax +49 (89) 893-36288.
Thermo rheometer features flexibility
Mars stands for ``modular advanced rheometer system'' in the Haake Mars rheometer from Thermo Electron Corp. of Waltham, Mass.
Mars is the platform that allows the rheometer to adapt quickly to different applications and tests. Measurements can be performed in controlled-rate, controlled-stress and controlled-deformation modes, in rotation and in oscillation. A new sensor can measure negative normal forces.
Thermo Electron also launched an OS or open system version of its torque rheometer platform, the Haake PolyLab. The unit is designed to an open industry standard, so that a range of sensors can be connected to measure viscosity and spectroscopy.
The company also offers a new modular version of its benchtop twin-screw compounding extruder, the Prism Eurolab 16.
Tel. (845) 496-8945, fax (845) 496-1685.
New shredders boast energy-saving design
Rapid Granulator AB of Bredaryd, Sweden, has introduced the Granumatic range of shredders, boasting long blade life and energy-efficient operation.
Rapid said the shredder is designed for plastics. The PolyCut sequential cutting design means one knife is in operation at a time. The shredder also has easy access for service, the firm said.
Also new is the Energypro, which uses full power only when it is really needed.
Rapid's U.S. operation is Rapid Granulator Inc. of Rockford, Ill.
Tel. (800) 272-7431, e-mail [email protected]
Premix adds to line of Pre-Elec materials
Premix Thermoplastics Inc. has added a broad line of carbon-fiber-reinforced compounds to its Pre-Elec portfolio.
Premix offers three forms of carbon fiber in the compounds: chopped fiber, milled carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes. The Milton, Wis., firm said the additives increase rigidity and conductivity. Premix said compounds based on carbon nanotubes are conductive at addition levels as low as 3 percent.
Fiber levels of up to 60 percent are offered. Systems include nylons, acetal, polyphenylene sulfide, ABS and polycarbonate.
Tel. (888) 284-3304 or (608) 868-9988, fax (608) 868-9166, e-mail [email protected]
