Coperion Corporation, USA has enhanced its test lab in Ramsey, NJ facility, with a twin screw extruder of the new ZSK Mc18 series.The ZSK with 32 mm screw diameter stands out for its specific torque of 18 Nm/cm3 and gives customers running trials the possibility to fully exploit the high productivity of the ZSK Mc18 series.
The ZSK 32 Mc18 is supported with state-of-the-art processing equipment. Depending on the application of the trial the Feed Enhancement Technology (FET), ZS-EG twin screw side devolatilization units, and first-class metering, pelletizing, and control equipment can be installed.
With a torque increase of 30% the ZSK Mc18 provides users with a wider operating window than its predecessor models ZSK Mc PLUS or ZSK Mc, especially in applications where the customer can make use of the extruder’s high torque of 18 Nm/cm3.
The increased specific torque allows processors to run the ZSK at a higher degree of screw fill resulting in up to 30% higher throughput rates at a lower energy input and therefore lower material discharge temperature.
This makes the ZSK Mc18 the ideal choice for processing previously torque-limited products such as engineering resins or glass-reinforced compounds. It can be especially beneficial when processing heat and shear sensitive materials. The higher degree of fill and lower energy input provided by the ZSK Mc18 enable processors to improve their product quality and increase productivity. Customers can experience up to 30% increase in throughput rates.
For applications with feed limitations – for instance filling with talcum, calcium carbonate or other fillers – the feeding zone of the ZSK 32 Mc18 can be equipped with the Feed Enhancement Technology (FET). This unit allows product feed-rate optimization to increase feed material volume when processing powder bulk materials.
FET equips the feed zone with a porous, gas-permeable segment with an external vacuum applied, enabling the feed zone to take in as much as two to three times the volume of material, while reducing bulk density feed problems. Therefore, when processing low bulk density products, feed levels and output can be increased by up to 300% depending on the product while lowering specific energy input and improving compounding quality.
Besides FET the ZSK 32 Mc18 can be equipped with a ZS-EG twin screw side devolatilization unit. It can help processors exploit the ZSK Mc18 performing capability, especially in the compounding of low-viscous melts and processes with high gas quantities.
With a large free cross section for devolatilization, the unit is flange-mounted laterally on the process section, and is equipped with deep-flighted twin screws that keep the melt in the process section without product leakage even at maximum specific torque. Throughput increases of up to 30% with improved product quality can be achieved.
In June 2012, Coperion plans to add an additional ZSK Mc18 with 45 mm screw diameter to the test lab facility in Ramsey so that customers can also run trials on a larger machine.
