CHEMICALS

Process technologies for tomorrow.

PROCESS SYSTEMS FOR POLYMERS

Hosokawa Micron provides the plastics industry with a wide range of process technologies and equipment for the manufacture of (specialty) polymers and super-absorbent polymers (SAP).

Vacuum Drying

Nauta vacuum dryer

The Nauta® vacuum dryer is the ideal solution for drying after synthesis, applying vacuum and heat to evaporate all liquid components and also to cure the product. If the boiling point of the fluid is higher than the melting point of the polymer, the valuable ‒ normally toxic and flammable ‒ fluid (monomer) can be recuperated in a controlled manner in the condensing step.

The Nauta dryer can perform a number of consecutive production steps in one piece of equipment without intermediate transfer, which is a big advantage when contamination is a concern. Another advantage of this dryer is that the temperature to which the polymer is exposed can be kept low and no quality loss occurs.

Extrusion

Many polymers are extruded either to obtain final products or to be cut into pellets. Important for extrusion is that moisture is extremely low, also the virgin polymer is to be fed homogeneously to the extruder. The Nauta vacuum dryer meets both requirements in one piece of equipment.

Mixing

Nauta mixer

Nauta conical screw mixers can mix polymers with additives to enhance product properties, such as flow properties and static discharge. Nauta mixers can also be used for recycling scrap and trims into virgin material: offline for pre-mixing or online using semi-continuous production.

Coating

The Nauta mixer is also suitable for the coating of polymers with pigments before extrusion. For coating in continuous processes a continuous paddle mixer can be used.

SUPERABSORBENT POLYMERS (SAP)

Super-Absorbent Polymers

Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) are polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large volumes of liquid. Amazingly, water absorbing polymers (hydrogels) can absorb and retain up to 500 times their own weight in water. Their absorbency is determined by the type and ratio of cross-linking agents used to make the gel. Low density cross-linked SAPs have a larger absorbent capacity, while the higher cross-linked SAPs have lower absorbent capacity but form firmer gels.

Adding cross-linking agents

Flexomix mixer / agglomerator

The Flexomix mixer/agglomerator is commonly used to add surface cross-linking agents to SAPs. It can be used to dose powder and liquid in the correct proportions to create a homogenous mixture and is self-cleaning to avoid product build-up which can often be a problem in SAP production.

Did you know?

Did you know that the biggest application of superabsorbent polymers by far, is their use in disposable hygiene products such as nappies (diapers), adult protective underwear and feminine hygiene products? They absorb fluids to form a gel, which prevents leakage. Other uses include water-blocking applications in electrical power cables, optical cables, construction works, food packaging and agricultural soil conditioners.

 
70% of babies worldwide sleep drier and happier thanks to Super Absorbent Polymers produced with Flexomix agglomeration technology!

 

TESTING & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Hosokawa Micron powder processing Test Centre in Doetinchem, Netherlands

Polymer manufacturers are constantly developing special products with tailor-made properties. These high value products require increasingly complex production methods. Hosokawa Micron's knowledge, equipment and especially our Test and Process Cevelopment Centre make us the ideal partner to assist in the development of new polymer production processes.

Whether you need to test a single machine or a complete powder processing system, the same skilled and experienced staff are here to ensure that your requirements are met and that you are fully satisfied with the results. Our policy is to provide high performance yet affordable solutions that meet our customers' requirements and long-term challenges.

Let our expert help you

Talk to our seasoned experts and let them help you craft the perfect solution for your powder and bulk solids processing needs, ensuring optimal efficiency and peak performance.

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Sustainable Processing Systems

Hosokawa Micron B.V. is certified according to ISO 14001. Our certification covers all environmental themes of ISO 14001: air, soil, energy, waste, water, noise and hazardous substances. In addition, Hosawa Micron was awarded an EcoVadis Silver Medal for its sustainability achievements. EcoVadis determined that the company was among the top 15% of companies rated by EcoVadis in the special machinery industry.

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