Dongguan Baier Plastic Co., Limited, a Chinese supplier of high-performance engineering plastics, has purchased three ZSK Mc18 compounders from Coperion. The investment is intended to increase the company’s production capacity in high-temperature engineering plastics such as PA6/PA66, PEEK, PEI, PAI, PPS, PPO, PPA, PA9T, PA10T, LCP and PA46. These materials are used primarily in the automotive industry, the electrical and electronics sector, and mechanical engineering. As stated, the new equipment is also expected to expand the company’s product portfolio, and the company has already been operating a Coperion ZSK Mc18 twin-screw extruder for several years. According to the manufacturer, processing this group of materials places very high demands on production technology and on the compounding process itself, particularly due to the high process temperatures and the rheological properties of the molten plastics. Coperion designed the configuration of the three extruders and the appropriate screw geometries with the required high process temperatures in mind.
High-performance engineering plastics are characterised by their ability to retain their mechanical properties over long periods, even at extreme temperatures above 400°C. Compounding these plastics requires specially configured production technology. Extruders intended for processing such materials must be significantly more powerful than solutions used for standard plastics and at the same time resistant to high thermal loads. Coperion stated that the process sections of the three ZSK Mc18 units for Dongguan Baier Plastic were designed, both mechanically and electrically, for melt temperatures of up to 450°C.
Configuration for high temperatures and heavy loads
The extruders are equipped with powerful heating cartridges and effective thermal insulation to maintain the required temperature parameters consistently. The twin screws were individually configured for processing high-performance engineering plastics, and both the screws and the barrels were fitted with special wear and corrosion protection. According to Coperion, the high specific torque of the ZSK extruders, combined with specially designed screws, ensures a short residence time of the highly viscous melt in the process section at a very high filling degree. This is said to translate into high throughput and very good product quality.
In addition, the ZS-EG side degassing units are intended to provide reliable and stable degassing of the polymer melt, further supporting the quality of the materials produced. The manufacturer also points to solutions facilitating quick recipe changes. Both the ZS-B side feeders and the ZS-EG degassing units are made in an easy design version, allowing them to be detached from the process section particularly quickly. This solution is intended to reduce downtime during recipe changes and increase the OEE of the production systems.
Equipment supporting compounding efficiency
To fully utilise the performance potential of the ZSK Mc18 extruders, the ZS-B side feeders were equipped with the patented Feed Enhancement Technology, FET. In the feeding zone there is a porous, gas-permeable wall section to which a vacuum is applied from the outside. According to Coperion, the use of FET results in a significant increase in throughput and improved cost efficiency of the compounding system.
Joanne Shen, general manager engineering plastics at Coperion, commented on the investment as follows: "We are very proud to support Dongguan Baier Plastic in its expansion by supplying three additional ZSK Mc18 extruders. We are confident that with these compounding systems the company is very well positioned for the future. We wish Dongguan Baier Plastic every success and look forward to further cooperation."
The Chinese specialist in high-performance engineering plastics, Dongguan Baier Plastic, is purchasing three high-temperature ZSK Mc18 twin-screw extruders from Coperion.
