Continuous process for expanding thermoplastic minipellets

Details Continuous process for expanding thermoplastic minipellets Continuous process for expanding thermoplastic minipellets

1997-05-27

1998-05-19

Kuhns, Allan R.

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Pore forming in situ

By gas forming or expanding

521 56, 521 60, C08J 914

Patent

active

057531579

ABSTRACT:
The subject invention pertains to a continuous process for expanding thermoplastic minipellets, particularly polypropylene. The minipellets are continuously expanded by continuously charging and mixing water and minipellets in a slurry tank to form a slurry which is subsequently pressurized. A blowing agent such as butane is entrained into the pressurized slurry flow, which said slurry is then heated by a heating means, such as a shell and tube heat exchanger, to the softening point of the minipellets. The heated minipellets are given the time necessary for impregnation by permitting them to flow through one or more impregnation vessels. The impregnated minipellets are released through an orifice into an expansion vessel where the blowing agent flashes off, thereby expanding the minipellets.

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