At this year's Chinaplas in Guangzhou, ProTec Polymer Processing – making its inaugural appearance as an exhibitor at Chinaplas – will be presenting technology and expertise designed for the targeted improvement of the properties of technical polymers, especially polyesters and polyamides.
OHL tumble reactors, used in a PET recycling plant for decontamination (achieving the material purity required for contact with foodstuffs) and controlled post-condensation (increasing the IV value) of rPET pellets. The system has an annual manufacturing capacity of over 20,000 tons. Photo: ProTec Polymer Processing
The customized systems technology required for this includes vacuum reactors from varying frame sizes through to complete turn-key manufacturing lines for the recycling of reusable polymer materials, such as the bottle-to-bottle recycling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
An important system component in this multistage process is the OHL tumble reactor, a rotation reactor that can be heated and evacuated. The PET treatment process involves purging (decontaminating) the repellets inside of any volatile pollutants on the one hand, while at the same time allowing post-condensation (increasing the intrinsic viscosity IV) to take place on the other. The rPET produced by the OHL process has an acetaldehyde content of ≤ 1 ppm and exhibits material properties just like virgin PET product. The nonobjection letter from the US certification authority FDA (Food and Drug Administration) verifies the safety of the PET recyclates produced in this manner with regard to direct contact with foodstuffs. Additionally, at Chinaplas ProTec Polymer Processing will also provide information regarding the comprehensive SOMOS® range of systems for the material handling during injection moulding and extrusion: from powerful and energy-efficient dryers to conveyors and including highly precise dosing systems for all free-flowing types of plastics.
Controllable – extremely versatile
Through the precise control of the parameters temperature, vacuum and time, the pellets in the OHL tumble reactor – recyclates or also virgin products – are individually processed to the required quality based on technical requirements and the customer's demands. In this manner, during the post-condensation of polyesters even IV values of ≥ 1.2 dl/g as required in technical applications, for example, can be achieved. As well as treating PET both for the production of high-quality rPET and for the post-condensation of new PET product, the OHL tumble reactor is used in equal measure to carry out decontamination and post-condensation of other polyesters such as PBT or PEN in addition to polyamides (PA6, PA66, among others). It is also still used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry for the drying of pellet-shaped products. The regulated batch process always delivers consistent product characteristics (material viscosity, cleanness).
ProTec Polymer Processing GmbH with headquarters in Bensheim bundles the renowned brands SOMOS® and OHL: Machines and entire system solutions for efficient material handling in all plastic treatment processes currently in use, machines for the post-condensation of solid plastic matter as well as turn-key machines for bottle-to-bottle recycling of PET. ProTec Polymer Processing is a member of the Schoeller Plast Industries Group of companies with manufacturing locations in Germany, Denmark and Brazil. The company's integration into the global sales and service network of the Schoeller Group (www.schoeller.org) offers the optimum infrastructure for comprehensive on-site customer service.