Plastics compounder’s most unresolved process challenges eliminated with STEER's Melt Formation Element

24-Mar-15

STEER has announced the launch of Melt Formation Element (MFE) at NPE for use in its Fatigue Free technology. This is in line with its endeavor to make continuous improvements to its Mega and Omega co-rotating twin-screw platforms for delivering exceptional functionality and superior processing capability for plastics compounding. The MFE is for improved reliability, reduced wear and increased uniformity of melting and mixing. The MFE addresses key problems faced by the compounders of masterbatch, engineering plastics and difficult to process materials: • High wear • Degradation during melting • Uncontrolled breakdown in the process and transmission section • Improper material flow causing pressure peaks, which in turn leads to shear peaks which leads to torque instability and re-agglomeration With this announcement, the Conventional Kneading blocks (Right handed, Left handed or Neutral) known for their ability to disperse, but too harsh for many applications, the kneading blocks present a perpendicular face to the flow causing melt stagnation and large pressure and shear peaks during melting is replaced by the MFE. Dr Babu Padmanabhan, Managing Director & Chief Knowledge Officer, STEER, said, “The Melt Formation elements are designed to create turbulence to the melt flow without stagnation. They can replace conventional kneading blocks that suffer from lack of shear uniformity completely removing any right angled face to the melt flow.” According to the STEER Application Development Center, which works with customers to improve polymer compounding process using STEER technology found, a range of specific mechanical energy input at sub-enthalpy values for partial to complete melting was possible with polyolefins, polyamides and polycarbonates. “Our elements portfolio is the most advanced and crafted to find answers to unresolved process and mechanical challenges faced by the plastics compounding producers.” Said, Atanu Maity, CEO, STEER. “The MFE adds to the lineup of STEER special EPZ elements of SFV, RFV, FKB, OSE, DSE, EME, FME, 3KB as part of our ongoing program to continuously evolve STEER Extruder platforms and make them more functional, efficient and address specific customer problems.”