Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | 2002-6-103-1-3 | |
| Title | Low Energy Compounding & Extrusion of Solid PVC by using liquid CO2 | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Energy Efficiency(Industry) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Mr E Peregrine No email address given Rapra Technology Ltd |
|
| Award Type | 3 | |
| Funding Source | Carbon Trust | |
| Start Date | 01 April 2003 | |
| End Date | 30 March 2004 | |
| Duration | 12 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £101,915 | |
| Industrial Sectors | ||
| Region | West Midlands | |
| Programme | ||
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Mr E Peregrine , Rapra Technology Ltd (99.998%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Telford Extrusion (0.001%) Project Contact , Hydro Polymers Ltd. (0.001%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | The main technical objective is to control the processing and materials parameters to minimise process energy, and eliminate foaming of uPVC profiles when using CO2 as a processing gas. | |
| Abstract | Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride (uPVC) is used extensively worldwide; for example, to produce window profiles. Its popularity is due to its outstanding properties in terms of cost, nonflammability, weatherability, chemical resistance and mechanical properties. The demand for uPVC is expected to continue rising, both in the UK and worldwide. However, the extrusion of uPVC is energy-intensive and it has to be compounded with heat stabilisers (typically based on heavy metals) to minimise degradation. Previous work has shown that by introducing fluid CO2 and mixing it with molten polymer a large reduction in viscosity can be achieved. This allows for processing at lower temperatures. This project aims to design, build and develop prototype demonstration units that can be fitted to conventional uPVC extrusion machinery to allow the injection of liquid CO2. During the project, basic understanding of the process will be developed and the technology will be demonstrated for both uPVC compounding and window profile extrusion. Energy measurements will be carried out throughout the trials and the processes optimised to establish the maximum energy reductions possible (at acceptable output rates). The CO2 used is reclaimed from industrial processes. Typically, about 30kg of CO2 is injected into the polymer melt during processing, compared with 490kg CO2 emitted per tonne through energy consumption. It is estimated that energy savings of around 15% are achievable | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 01/01/07 | |
