A 360-degree look at resin conveying systems: types, operation, economics, design, installation, components and controls.
This Knowledge Center provides an overview of resin moisture and the drying process, including information on the best drying practices for your manufacturing facility. Professional Rapid Prototyping
Everything you need to know about plastics compounding technology—from feeding solutions to application profiles and expert advice.
Combat the skilled labor shortage using this comprehensive resource to train your own plastics processing experts.
Deep dive into the basics of blending versus dosing, controls, maintenance, process integration and more.
This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.
Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.
Flat-to-downward trajectory for at least this month.
A mixed bag, though prices likely to be down if not flat for all this month.
Trajectory is generally flat-to-down for all commodity resins.
Flat-to-down trajectory underway for fourth quarter for commodity resins.
Generally, a bottoming-out appears to be the projected pricing trajectory.
PS prices to see significant drop, with some potential for a modest downward path for others.
Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.
Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.
In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.
In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.
Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.
In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.
Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.
In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.
Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.
Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.
The global plastics industry has been navigating through what is arguably the most volatile period in decades. Unprecedented amounts of new production capacity are scheduled to start in North America, Europe, and China in the near term and compete for demand during a period of economic challenges. How will trade flows shift? Will this lead to regional cost disparities and rationalization? Energy transition and sustainability targets continue transforming the plastics market and increasing the competitive landscape. As the market evolves, what impact will new technology, policy, regulation, the growing role of chemicals versus fuel and other factors have on industry restructuring and business models? At GPS 2024, leading global experts will come together to discuss pivotal impacts and initiatives shaping the plastics industry. Join us and participants from across the globe to gain the latest insight and deep analysis as you connect with your peers and industry professionals. This year’s conference will explore the theme Disruptive Global Dynamics Reshaping Plastics and include a full day workshop focused on the Global Plastics Business and Plastics Transition to Circularity, 1.5 days of expert content and numerous networking functions.
Every three years, leaders from almost every major industry gather at NPE to advance their businesses through innovations in plastics. The largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE offers six technology zones, keynote speakers, workshops and opportunities to build partnerships.
The 3D Printing Workshop @ NPE2024 – The Plastics Show, is an immersive, half-day workshop focused on the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop will build upon a successful model first introduced at IMTS 2014. Attendees will benefit from a program focused on practical applications of 3D technologies related to plastics processing. This event will conclude with a 3D Printing Industry Reception sponsored by Additive Manufacturing Media.
The Society Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division and the SPE Eastern New England Section will co-host the Screw Design Conference-Topcon on June 19-20, 2024 @ UMass Lowell in Lowell, MA. This highly technical program will focus upon screw design principles for single and twin screw extruders with wide ranging topics relating to screw designs for feeding, melting, mixing, venting and pumping plastics products and parts. Areas of focus will include screw designs for melt temperature and gel management, gel minimization, bioplastics, recycled materials and foaming. In addition to the technical sessions, a tour of the UMass Lowel Plastics Processing Laboratories will be integrated into Day 2 of the event. This program is not just for screw designers, but to help anyone responsible for any type of extrusion operation to evaluate existing extrusion equipment; and also to prepare for future projects. Price to attend: Less than $1000! Registrations will be accepted in early 2024. Call for papers – To be considered to give a presentation, please submit a talk title and abstract on or before December 15 to: Technical Chair: Eldridge M. Mount III, e-mail emmount@msn.com Corporate sponsorships - A limited # of corporate sponsorships (15) are available on a 1st come basis. Included is a 6’ tabletop display (must fit on table), denotation in all promotional activities, and 1 no charge registration. To become a sponsor contact: Charlie Martin, Leistritz Extrusion, e-mail cmartin@leistritz-extrusion.com, cell 973-650 3137 General information: A reception on Day 1 and a tabletop display area will allow the attendees to meet and discuss state-of-the-art screw technologies with industry experts. The SPE Extrusion Division will issue a “Screw Design Certificate” to all participants who have attended the program. Students are encouraged to attend and will receive a discounted rate. For additional information contact: Program Chair: Karen Xiao, Macro Engineering, KXiao@macroeng.com
Debuting in 2010, the Parts Cleaning Conference is the leading and most trusted manufacturing and industrial parts cleaning forum focused solely on delivering quality technical information in the specialized field of machined parts cleansing. Providing guidance and training to understand the recognized sets of standards for industrial cleaning, every year the Conference showcases industry experts who present educational sessions on the latest and most pressing topics affecting manufacturing facilities today. Discover all that the 2022 Parts Cleaning Conference has to offer!
Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop at IMTS 2024 is a chance for job shops to learn the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. First introduced at IMTS 2014, this workshop has helped hundreds of manufacturing professionals expand their additive capabilities.
In today's manufacturing environment, robust processes that meet strict industry and regulatory standards are essential. With the advent of servo-driven ultrasonic welding technology, enhancing product quality and maintaining consistency has become remarkably effortless. Discover the fundamentals of ultrasonic welding, delve into vital components within these systems, explore how servo-driven ultrasonic welding enhances weld quality via advanced control features and gain insights into optimizing your assemblies for welding in these high-performing machines. Join Dukane to unlock the potential of ultrasonic welding in modern manufacturing for plastic devices and components. Agenda: Fundamentals of ultrasonic welding Key components in an ultrasonic welding system Using servo-driven ultrasonic systems to control your welding process Designing your parts and components for servo-controlled ultrasonic welding
This webinar will help you make informed decisions to confirm the equipment access stairs in your facility are OSHA compliant and meet the highest standards of safety and ergonomics. Agenda: Identifying opportunities to increase safety in the work place Utilizing space saving stairways Ensuring code compliance for equipment access
4.0, EUROMAP, OPC, OLE, QC, DSN, SQL, VNC, MES, ERP, FTP, CMS, SPI — are you confused by all buzzwords being tossed around in the plastics industry? Not convinced the data collection is necessary? Or are you unsure of how it could be implemented and improve your molding processes? Wittmann has been on the cutting edge of the data collection push for nearly 20 years. In this webinar, take a step back from the idea of the manufacturing facility of the future and discuss what you can do today to improve your process. Using readily-available technology, Wittmann can help reduce downtime, limit scrap and wasted material, and predict required maintenance. Let the experts at Wittmann help you understand: what data can be collected, what that data can be used for, what systems are used, and how to implement them. Agenda: Demystifying the terminology Tracking the material flow and lot information through the material handling system The data available from various auxiliary equipment, such as: dryers, blenders, mold temperature controls and robots Automating the process through changes in the data collected at the machines during production Adding visualization to increase productivity
Learn how targeted, modular, dosing and blending solutions — covering powders, granules, regrinds and liquids — provide plastics processors of all kinds with best-in-class accurate dosing while delivering significant raw material savings and ensuring highest quality. Agenda: Introduction to Movacolor Blending in plastics applications Movacolor feeding and dosing technology Hybrid blending to combine high material throughput and dosing accuracy
This presentation will explore the in-situ polyurethane (PU) overmolding of injection-molded and composite parts, allowing for direct out-of-mold class "A" surfaces. KraussMaffei will review the process and equipment required. It will also discuss tooling types currently available for PU systems for this process. KraussMaffei will compare the pros and cons of this technology over currently-available coating and painting systems. Agenda: Introduction and evolution of the ColorForm technology Overview of the ColorForm process Equipment required Tooling and PU systems Benefits of the system compared to typical spray-applied coatings Pros and cons of the technology
Consistent quality is paramount within the production of pipe and tubing applications. Additionally, significant material savings can be obtained by tightly controlling product dimensions with the correct process equipment. In this webinar, Conair will cover gravimetric control of an extruder and production line speed to ensure optimal quality and cost savings are achieved in your product run. A detailed discussion of the upstream material handling system includes: blending resins upstream of the feed throat, detection of the extruder rate at the throat, control of the extruder rpm and control of the product itself in feet per min — all accomplished with a simple recipe configuration which includes product weight per length desired and production line speed.
Medical-component specialist LightningCath has carved a niche meeting the needs of small to medium-sized entrepreneurs with complex catheter designs … quickly.
Fast Track service from BPM can repair every brand of rotor in two weeks or fewer.
Adds 52,000 square feet to Lebanon plant.
Nextpoint announced a $2 million investment, part of a $7.7 million raise for PlantSwitch, which uses agricultural waste to manufacture plastic.
Life cycle analysis of production at four plants in Mexico and Germany was conducted by C7-consult.
Tahara’s new eight-head, double-sided coex machine has many new mechanical and electronic features.
Topping five other entries in voting by fellow molders, the Ultradent team talks about their Hot Shots sweep.
Serendipitous Learning Opportunities at PTXPO Underscore the Value of Being Present.
Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.
Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.
technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.
Shibaura discusses the upcoming Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO) March 28-30
Ahead of the first NPE since 2018, PLASTICS announced that its triennial show will stay in Orlando and early May for ’27, ’30 and ’33.
New features of NPE2024 aim to “bring the whole plastics ecosystem together to innovate, collaborate and share findings.”
Hundreds of tons of demonstration products will be created at NPE2024 next spring. Commercial Plastics Recycling strives to recycle all of it.
After what will be a 6-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, registration is open for the triennial show, which will take place May 6-10, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.
The Plastics Industry Association has hired from within, elevating Matt Seaholm to CEO and Glenn Anderson to COO.
Long-time leaders hailing from the U.S., Japan, Germany and Austria and across the entire supply chain, from machinery and materials to training and moldmaking, will be inducted.
Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.
After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.
Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.
When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.
As self-imposed and government-issued sustainability mandates approach, injection molders reimagine their operations.
August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.
Get your clicking finger in shape and sign up for all that we have in store for you in 2023.
Molding 2023 to take place Aug. 29-30 in Minnesota; Extrusion 2023 slated for Oct. 10-12 in Indiana.
Key technologies — such as multicolor molding, film molding and PUR overmolding for both exterior and interior applications — are at the forefront of this transformation. Join this webinar to explore the vast potential of eMobility in molding large components — including those with fiber reinforcements — thereby driving the need for large injection molding cells with a clamping force of up to 11,000 tons. You will also gain insight into Engel's innovative two-stage process, a solution for future recycling processes. This webinar will provide an in-depth overview of challenging applications, production concepts and best practices, including: BMW iX front panel production cell Smart rear panels concept based on IMD and 2C molding Sustainability concepts based on two-stage process Large tonnage equipment for battery moldings
In today's manufacturing environment, robust processes that meet strict industry and regulatory standards are essential. With the advent of servo-driven ultrasonic welding technology, enhancing product quality and maintaining consistency has become remarkably effortless. Discover the fundamentals of ultrasonic welding, delve into vital components within these systems, explore how servo-driven ultrasonic welding enhances weld quality via advanced control features and gain insights into optimizing your assemblies for welding in these high-performing machines. Join Dukane to unlock the potential of ultrasonic welding in modern manufacturing for plastic devices and components. Agenda: Fundamentals of ultrasonic welding Key components in an ultrasonic welding system Using servo-driven ultrasonic systems to control your welding process Designing your parts and components for servo-controlled ultrasonic welding
This webinar will help you make informed decisions to confirm the equipment access stairs in your facility are OSHA compliant and meet the highest standards of safety and ergonomics. Agenda: Identifying opportunities to increase safety in the work place Utilizing space saving stairways Ensuring code compliance for equipment access
4.0, EUROMAP, OPC, OLE, QC, DSN, SQL, VNC, MES, ERP, FTP, CMS, SPI — are you confused by all buzzwords being tossed around in the plastics industry? Not convinced the data collection is necessary? Or are you unsure of how it could be implemented and improve your molding processes? Wittmann has been on the cutting edge of the data collection push for nearly 20 years. In this webinar, take a step back from the idea of the manufacturing facility of the future and discuss what you can do today to improve your process. Using readily-available technology, Wittmann can help reduce downtime, limit scrap and wasted material, and predict required maintenance. Let the experts at Wittmann help you understand: what data can be collected, what that data can be used for, what systems are used, and how to implement them. Agenda: Demystifying the terminology Tracking the material flow and lot information through the material handling system The data available from various auxiliary equipment, such as: dryers, blenders, mold temperature controls and robots Automating the process through changes in the data collected at the machines during production Adding visualization to increase productivity
Learn how targeted, modular, dosing and blending solutions — covering powders, granules, regrinds and liquids — provide plastics processors of all kinds with best-in-class accurate dosing while delivering significant raw material savings and ensuring highest quality. Agenda: Introduction to Movacolor Blending in plastics applications Movacolor feeding and dosing technology Hybrid blending to combine high material throughput and dosing accuracy
This presentation will explore the in-situ polyurethane (PU) overmolding of injection-molded and composite parts, allowing for direct out-of-mold class "A" surfaces. KraussMaffei will review the process and equipment required. It will also discuss tooling types currently available for PU systems for this process. KraussMaffei will compare the pros and cons of this technology over currently-available coating and painting systems. Agenda: Introduction and evolution of the ColorForm technology Overview of the ColorForm process Equipment required Tooling and PU systems Benefits of the system compared to typical spray-applied coatings Pros and cons of the technology
Fast facts SPE International Polyolefins Conference 2024: The Preeminent Polymer Conference in the World dedicated to Polyolefins since 1975 The conference will in-person and virtual The powerful software platform for the conference will allow access to all papers on-demand, even several months after the conference, access to the program, access to virtual exhibitor/sponsor booths, and easy communication with speakers and other participants In-person participants can download a mobile or web app for the conference to access all the features of the software platform for the conference We anticipate over 900 people from around the globe to participate in-person or virtually The improved layout of the exhibit floor offers easy access and flow for the 60+ companies that we anticipate to exhibit Over 20 sponsors expected 150+ Technical papers, Sunday afternoon Tutorial Student Poster Competition 2 Networking Socials Meeting rooms available for rent to meet with customers and suppliers Exhibits from Monday through Wednesday until noon The Conference is organized by the SPE South Texas Section, the SPE Polymer Modifiers and Additives Division, the Thermoplastic Materials and Foams Division, the Engineering Properties and Structures Division, the Building and Infrastructure Division, and the Flexible Packaging Division.
The global plastics industry has been navigating through what is arguably the most volatile period in decades. Unprecedented amounts of new production capacity are scheduled to start in North America, Europe, and China in the near term and compete for demand during a period of economic challenges. How will trade flows shift? Will this lead to regional cost disparities and rationalization? Energy transition and sustainability targets continue transforming the plastics market and increasing the competitive landscape. As the market evolves, what impact will new technology, policy, regulation, the growing role of chemicals versus fuel and other factors have on industry restructuring and business models? At GPS 2024, leading global experts will come together to discuss pivotal impacts and initiatives shaping the plastics industry. Join us and participants from across the globe to gain the latest insight and deep analysis as you connect with your peers and industry professionals. This year’s conference will explore the theme Disruptive Global Dynamics Reshaping Plastics and include a full day workshop focused on the Global Plastics Business and Plastics Transition to Circularity, 1.5 days of expert content and numerous networking functions.
Every three years, leaders from almost every major industry gather at NPE to advance their businesses through innovations in plastics. The largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE offers six technology zones, keynote speakers, workshops and opportunities to build partnerships.
The 3D Printing Workshop @ NPE2024 – The Plastics Show, is an immersive, half-day workshop focused on the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop will build upon a successful model first introduced at IMTS 2014. Attendees will benefit from a program focused on practical applications of 3D technologies related to plastics processing. This event will conclude with a 3D Printing Industry Reception sponsored by Additive Manufacturing Media.
The Society Plastics Engineers (SPE) Extrusion Division and the SPE Eastern New England Section will co-host the Screw Design Conference-Topcon on June 19-20, 2024 @ UMass Lowell in Lowell, MA. This highly technical program will focus upon screw design principles for single and twin screw extruders with wide ranging topics relating to screw designs for feeding, melting, mixing, venting and pumping plastics products and parts. Areas of focus will include screw designs for melt temperature and gel management, gel minimization, bioplastics, recycled materials and foaming. In addition to the technical sessions, a tour of the UMass Lowel Plastics Processing Laboratories will be integrated into Day 2 of the event. This program is not just for screw designers, but to help anyone responsible for any type of extrusion operation to evaluate existing extrusion equipment; and also to prepare for future projects. Price to attend: Less than $1000! Registrations will be accepted in early 2024. Call for papers – To be considered to give a presentation, please submit a talk title and abstract on or before December 15 to: Technical Chair: Eldridge M. Mount III, e-mail emmount@msn.com Corporate sponsorships - A limited # of corporate sponsorships (15) are available on a 1st come basis. Included is a 6’ tabletop display (must fit on table), denotation in all promotional activities, and 1 no charge registration. To become a sponsor contact: Charlie Martin, Leistritz Extrusion, e-mail cmartin@leistritz-extrusion.com, cell 973-650 3137 General information: A reception on Day 1 and a tabletop display area will allow the attendees to meet and discuss state-of-the-art screw technologies with industry experts. The SPE Extrusion Division will issue a “Screw Design Certificate” to all participants who have attended the program. Students are encouraged to attend and will receive a discounted rate. For additional information contact: Program Chair: Karen Xiao, Macro Engineering, KXiao@macroeng.com
Debuting in 2010, the Parts Cleaning Conference is the leading and most trusted manufacturing and industrial parts cleaning forum focused solely on delivering quality technical information in the specialized field of machined parts cleansing. Providing guidance and training to understand the recognized sets of standards for industrial cleaning, every year the Conference showcases industry experts who present educational sessions on the latest and most pressing topics affecting manufacturing facilities today. Discover all that the 2022 Parts Cleaning Conference has to offer!
Adding aPHA to PLA can boost a range of mechanical properties and expedite composting. Here are the details as well as processing guidelines for injection molding the blends.
Injection molded prototypes made with PLA/aPHA blends include cases for cosmetics. (Images: CJ Biomaterials)
Biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) are versatile, compostable and biocompatible materials derived from natural resources such as corn, sugar beets and potato starch, and are excellent candidates for producing commercially compostable packaging materials. PLA adoption has grown significantly in recent years, but some drawbacks — including low elongation at break and brittleness in comparison with traditional petroleum-based polymers — have limited the range of applications in which it is employed.
In this article we explore the use of amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (aPHA), which is commercially produced by CJ Biomaterials (a division of CJ CheilJedang), to improve the mechanical properties of brittle polymers such as PLA in injection molding applications. While modification of PLA is the focus here, a similar approach may be employed for a variety of other polymers used in molding applications.
aPHA is a type of biopolymer that belongs to the family of PHAs, which are biodegradable aliphatic polyesters produced by various microorganisms as a means of energy storage. Unlike other types of PHAs, aPHA is a non-crystalline or amorphous polymer, meaning that it lacks the highly ordered structure found in semi-crystalline polymers. In 2022, CJ Biomaterials commercialized Phact 1000P aPHA, which has several unique properties that make it a promising material for various applications.
Adding 10% aPHA to PLA yields 25-30 days faster composting. (Photo: CJ Biomaterials)
For example, its low glass-transition temperature (Tg) around -17℃ leads to high stability and elasticity at low temperatures, compared with semi-crystalline PHAs in the market. The high biodegradability of aPHA is also one of its most remarkable characteristics. It is certified to be biodegradable in various environments, including soil and marine, by microorganisms that can use it as a carbon source.
The value of aPHA is to work with PLA or other biopolymers that are brittle and rigid.
As a result, it can be regarded as an attractive alternative to petroleum-based plastics. (It should be noted that the value of aPHA is to work with PLA or other biopolymers that are brittle and rigid, where it can help improve their performance and quicken their rate of composting compared with PLA alone.)
Addition of aPHA to PLA improves impact strength and ductility at room temperature. (The two different curves represent two different lots of aPHA.)
Addition of aPHA to PLA results in the following advantages relative to pure PLA:
• Faster PLA industrial composting. As shown in Fig. 1, blending 10% aPHA with PLA permits composting times about 30 days faster.
• Considerable impact toughening of PLA. As shown in Fig. 2, aPHA can enable PLA to transition from a brittle polymer to a ductile polymer.
• Improved flexibility and potential for living hinges in molded parts. Figure 3 shows the influence of aPHA addition on the modulus of PLA.
Based on those performance features highlighted, it’s clear that blends of PLA and aPHA are useful biobased (100% bio-carbon) and compostable alternates to plastics such as ABS, PP, PS, HIPS and PET in many molding applications. These blends are also certified for food contact by the U.S. FDA.
Adding aPHA to PLA improves flexibility and potential for living hinges. (The two different curves represent two different lots of aPHA.) CA1180P,
To date, CJ Biomaterials has introduced two compounds for injection molding, CA1180P and CA1170P, which are based on PLA and aPHA along with a small amount of mineral filler. Their cost and performance are differentiated by the content of aPHA and mineral filler. The spider chart (Fig. 4) demonstrates the performance of CA1180P relative to a standard PLA injection molding grade. It is evident that CA1180P, which is 100% biobased and compostable, has significantly higher impact strength and elongation relative to PLA alone, while only a modest decrease in strength is evident.
CA1180P can be processed on conventional electric and hydraulic reciprocating-screw injection molding machines. General process conditions are similar to those of PLA. Hydrolysis, thermal stability and warpage/shrinkage are among the factors that must be accounted for in molding both PLA and compounds of PLA with aPHA. Because aliphatic polyesters are susceptible to hydrolysis at typical processing temperature, the products must be dried prior to molding.
CA1180P, a blend of PLA and aPHA, has higher elongation and impact strength than pure PLA.
These polymers are also prone to chain scission at higher than nominal processing temperatures that can arise from excessive shear. These attributes call for processing temperatures below ~200°C. The injection speed and screw rpm must be moderate. High-shear regions such as flow through the gate must be appropriately addressed through gate design.
Because aliphatic polyesters are susceptible to hydrolysis at typical processing temperature, the products must be dried prior to molding.
Other useful processing guidelines are as follows:
▪ Warping and shrinkage: PLA/aPHA blends have a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, which can cause warping and shrinkage of the parts during the cooling phase of injection molding. To minimize this, it is critical to use proper cooling methods, such as uniform cooling across the mold surface and adequate cooling time. And a slower than normal injection speed and additional holding pressure can help fill the part without much shrinkage and flash.
▪ Mold temperature: This directly affects the cycle times. At a mold temperature of 30℃, the cycle time for CA1180P PLA/aPHA blend is 20–35 sec. On the other hand, more than 100 sec of cycle time is required for high-temperature molding (110℃) typically used for crystallizing the PLA in-mold.
▪ Holding pressures and time: The second-stage injection pressure (i.e., holding pressure) should be just enough to fill the last 1% to 5% of the part and maintain a full part as it cools and shrinks in the cavity. For PLA/aPHA blends, holding pressure is typically 15% to 30% of the first-stage peak injection pressure and should start low and increase gradually until the part fills but does not flash.
The optimal hold time is the time that it takes the gate to seal off, at which point the weight of the part does not increase with further holding. For PLA/aPHA blends, hold times of 3–10 sec are common; longer hold times can be used for more complex parts. Sink marks and voids in the part indicate insufficient hold time.
▪ Cooling time: This should be long enough that the part ejectors do not penetrate the part. The part should not stick in the cavity and eject freely. The cooling requirements of a part are strongly dependent on its wall thickness. It is recommended to start long — e.g., 15–30 sec — to ensure the part can be ejected, and then gradually reduce the cooling time when the cycle is running. At a minimum, the cooling time will be equal to the screw recovery time.
To develop the ultimate physical and appearance properties of PLA/aPHA blends, the material should be processed at the maximum allowable melt temperature without excessive thermal degradation. It should be injected at slow speed, packed at the minimum pressure required to fill out the mold details, and packed long enough until the gate freezes.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Max Senechal is the chief commercial officer at CJ Biomaterials. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the chemical and material industries, with the last 13 years spent on the development of biomaterials at Metabolix, Ginkgo Bioworks, and CJ Biomaterials. Contact: (339) 999-2693; max.senechal@cj.net; cjbio.net.
Raj Krishnaswamy is v.p. of polymers R&D at CJ Biomaterials. He had over 20 years of polymers R&D experience at Chevron Phillips Chemical, Metabolix and Braskem prior to his current stint at CJ. Raj is a co-inventor on 50+ patents and a co-author on 40+ publications. He is a Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineering (SPE), has been recognized with the Research/Technology lifetime achievement award by the SPE, and is an alumnus of the NAE Frontiers of Engineering. Contact: (339) 999-2693; raj@krish.cj.net; cjbio.net.
Eunhye (Grace) Lee is the group manager of polymer application R&D at CJ Biomaterials. She has a Ph.D in polymer engineering from Osaka University and over 10 years’ experience in research on biopolymers. In particular, she has led application studies on biopolymers such as PLA, PHA, and PGA. She recently published several papers on the behavior of polymer properties and the use of biopolymers. Eunhye is currently conducting research on improving the physical properties of PHA biopolymers and compounds including tuning rates of biodegradability. Contact: (339) 999-2693; grace.lee@cj.net; cjbio.net.
Global bioplastic production capacity is expected to increase to 4.8 billion lb by 2024, driven by OEMs and brand owners steadily converting applications to these “green” materials. If you’re looking to supply compounds to meet this demand, here are some key processing considerations you need to know.
Twin-screw extrusion is the preferred method for compounding PLA and other biopolymers. But processing PLA is complicated because it’s sensitive to heat and shear. It’s also prone to hydrolytic degradation if moisture is present in molten PLA. Here’s what one machine builder’s trials revealed.
Wood-plastic composites, or WPCs, are already a 1.3-billion-lb market and are growing at 20% annually.
Other than polyolefins, almost every other polymer exhibits some level of polarity and therefore can absorb a certain amount of moisture from the atmosphere. Here’s a look at some of these materials, and what needs to be done to dry them.
The two companies have agreed to collaborate on creating advanced products based on industry-leading Ingeo PLA and Phact PHA technologies to meet growing demand for sustainable materials across a broad array of markets
Olive Young’s Wakemake cushion container made of PHA and PLA
FDA listing clears the way for CJ Biomaterials’ amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate to be used in the manufacture of food contact materials sold in the U.S.
Plating Surface Iso9001 Cnc Machined Aluminum Parts Micro Machining Prototype Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. Learn More