core sector communique

BELGIAN RESEARCH CENTER INSTALLS KraussMaffei Berstorff EXTRUSION SYSTEM

Researching production of biopolymers

Hanover, June 23, 2010 – The prestigious Belgian research center Materia Nova in Mons has invested in a ZE A 60 UTX twin-screw extruder from KraussMaffei Berstorff GmbH, Hanover, Germany. The extruder will expand the scope of the Center’s equipment for research and development of biodegradable plastics. The pilot system was officially handed over at a ceremony attended by many customers and regional politicians during a conference.

 

Polymers are one of Materia Nova’s main fields of research, together with surfaces and interfaces, with biotechnology, nanocomposites, surface treatment processes, such as coating and printing, and biopolymers. Scientists in Mons are researching not only production of biopolymers, but also their processing to compounds. The KraussMaffei Berstorff twin-screw extruder will be used for research in both these areas and for contract research for customers. In polymerization, ZE A 60 UTX output is between 30 and 60 kg/h, while in compounding output can reach 300 kg/h.

 

Highest flexibility

KraussMaffei Berstorff engineered the extruder to meet Materia Nova’s specifications. With its modular engineering, characteristic of all ZE machines, the extruder provides the very highest level of flexibility for many diverse applications. A processing length of 56D ensures the long residence time essential for the polymerization of PLA, for example, and also for gentle incorporation of mineral, or fiber, fillers when used in compounding tasks. A side-mounted feed unit ensures optimal metering of the fillers.

 

Two, easily exchangeable screw sets make it a simple matter to swap production over from polymerization to compounding and vice versa.

The metering units can feed dryblend, pellets or liquids. The system also includes two pelletizers; for maximum flexibility, Materia Nova ordered both an underwater pelletizer and a strand pelletizer. The latter can be combined with an air-cooled metal grid-type conveyor belt.

 

Luc Langer, Materia Nova CEO, explained the decision to invest in the KraussMaffei Berstorff machine: “Apart from the expertise that went into the engineering of the pilot system, which impressed us from the start with its tremendous flexibility, we valued the outstanding support we got from KraussMaffei Berstorff any time we had a question.”