Friday, October 23, 2009

Direct extrusion of mineral-filled PP pipe

Complete solution for Hamza Industries


 
Munich, October 22, 2009 – A complete extrusion line for direct extrusion of highly filled PP pipe has gone into operation in Egypt. The KraussMaffei Berstorff line, complete with all downstream units, is now producing three-layer PP pipe for domestic waste at Hamza Industry Co., Cairo, Egyptian specialists in sanitary equipment. Direct extrusion, a combination of compounding and processing in one extruder, increases flexibility and cost-efficiency in production.

 

Hamza Industries, an Egyptian company, which had previously bought in pipe systems from a well-known European producer, will from now on produce its own pipes by the cost-competitive direct extrusion method. The requisite technology has been supplied by KraussMaffei Berstorff. The direct extrusion line for highly filled three-layer PP soundproof pipes, consisting of a KMG 81-40 co-rotating twin-screw extruder as main extruder for the middle layer, a KME 45-30 B/R coextruder for the thin inner and outer layers, and a KM-3L RKW 74 three-layer mixing head.

 

Complete solution with all downstream units for pipe production

The line includes the complete downstream for pipe production – calibration, cooling, haul-off, sawing, chamfering and socketing. The extremely stiff and impact resistant PP block polymer used for the middle layer is fed into the extruder’s main feed throat via gravimetric differential scales, together with stabilizers and colour masterbatch – and regrind if it is being used. 70% by weight barium sulphate is fed into the side feed throat. A KM-ZSP 90 gear melt pump generates the necessary die counterpressure.

 

The whole line is controlled by the main extruder’s C5 controller. The line is configured to produce pipe from 50 to 250 millimetre diameter and for output up to 700 kilograms an hour. Alternatively, the output of PP melt highly-filled with barium sulphate can be directed to an underwater pelletizing unit via a hydraulic switchover valve. Pellets produced in this way can be used to injection mould the necessary connecting parts.

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