Apparatus for the continuous process for expanding thermoplastic minipellets

• Main Authors: HALL, III; THOMAS N, TRIVEDI; YOGESH C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.07.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; WORKING-UP

The subject invention pertains to an apparatus with the continuous expansion of thermoplastic minipellets, particularly polypropylene. The apparatus comprises a mixing means for mixing the thermoplastic minipellets in water to form a slurry, which is connected to a pressurizing means to form a flow of pressurized slurry to a junction which in trains a blowing agent to form a pressurized slurry mixture, which is connected to a heating means to heat the pressurized slurry mixture. Once the pressurized slurry mixture is impregnated with the blowing agent, it flows through water more orifice plates for expansion of thermoplastic minipellets into an expansion vessel.