Extrusion International 4-2017

11 Extrusion International 4/2017 Complete system for processing antistatic polymers Coperion GmbH, Stuttgart, has implemented a complete system for IonPhasE Oy for the manufacture of inherently dissipative polymers (IDP). The scope of supply included the entire system – from raw material handling through convey- ing, feeding and processing the dissipative polymers up to handling the finished products. Inherently dissipative poly- mers are suitable for a variety of applications where antistat- ic plastic products are of considerable significance. The Finnish technology company IonPhasE Oy is a leading manufacturer of static dissipative polymer additives, com- monly known as permanent anti-static additives. These serve to control static electricity in plastics. They are used in a vari- ety of industries – wherever anti-static properties are need- ed, for example in the electrical, chemical and automotive in- dustries. They are also incorporated in consumer goods that need to be protected from electrostatic attraction, such as air-conditioning units, vacuum cleaners, switches and hous- ings. All key components for the main process steps were devel- oped and produced in-house. All process steps and plant components were also optimally tailored to one another. The project included raw material handling and drying as well as material handling and the feeding equipment. A feeding sta- tion with eleven integrated highly accurate Coperion K-Tron feeders ensures continuous dispensing of precisely formu- lated raw materials into the extruder. The inherently dissipa- tive polymers are compounded in a high-performance ZSK www.coperion.com 45 Mc18 compact twin screw extruder equipped with a ZS-B side feeder and a ZS-EG twin-screw side devolatilization. In- side the process section of the ZSK twin screw extruder the base polymers are gently plasticized and reacted with multi- ple additives. An underwater granulator UG with optimized flow channels ensures a constant product flow and gentle handling of the product, and also facilitates high throughput rates. The downstream peripherals dry the product, which is then packaged by a semi-automatic bagging system. Besides supplying all the necessary processing equipment for the produc- tion effort, the project also included delivery, installation and system start- up. Coperion service staff were already integrated into the project when the system was installed and started up, so that after it had been handed over to IonPhasE Oy it was possible to guaran- tee complete local service. At the end of 2016 the system was successfully handed over to IonPhasE Oy, which has since then been using a Coperion production line to process inherently dissipative polymers. The core element of the compounding plant is the high- performance ZSK 45 Mc18 compact extruder for the processing of inherently dissipative polymers All the key components for the main process steps of Coperion’s turnkey compounding plants are developed and produced in-house Images: Coperion, Stuttgart, Germany