Method of processing polymers using a single screw
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B29C-044/38
B29C-044/34
출원번호
UP-0027191
(2004-12-30)
등록번호
US-7615170
(2009-11-23)
발명자
/ 주소
Xu, Jingyi
Cardona, Juan C.
Kishbaugh, Levi A.
출원인 / 주소
Trexel, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
31
초록▼
Injection molding and blow molding systems that include screws having low L:D ratios are provided. The systems are capable of producing microcellular polymeric materials. In some cases, the systems may be formed by retrofitting conventional polymer processing systems. Retrofitting may involve chang
Injection molding and blow molding systems that include screws having low L:D ratios are provided. The systems are capable of producing microcellular polymeric materials. In some cases, the systems may be formed by retrofitting conventional polymer processing systems. Retrofitting may involve changing (e.g., machining or replacing) existing components of the conventional system, as well as, adding new components to the system. For example, retrofitting generally involves replacing the conventional polymer processing screw with a new screw designed to satisfy conditions needed for processing microcellular materials. In other cases, the systems may be newly manufactured. The retrofitted or newly manufactured systems of the invention are considerably less expensive than newly manufactured microcellular processing systems having higher L:D ratios.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method of processing polymeric material comprising: conveying polymeric material in a polymer processing space within a polymer processing system including only a single screw, the polymer processing space defined between the screw and a barrel, the screw having an L:D rati
What is claimed is: 1. A method of processing polymeric material comprising: conveying polymeric material in a polymer processing space within a polymer processing system including only a single screw, the polymer processing space defined between the screw and a barrel, the screw having an L:D ratio of less than or equal to about 24:1; and injecting a mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent into a mold, or ejecting the mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent from a die, by moving the single screw in a downstream direction to form a microcellular material. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting a single-phase solution of blowing agent and polymeric material into the mold or ejecting a single-phase solution of polymeric material and blowing agent from the die. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising nucleating the single-phase solution while injecting the single-phase solution into the mold, or while ejecting the single-phase solution from the die. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing blowing agent into the polymeric material to form a mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent and conveying the mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent in a downstream direction in the polymer processing space. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising forming a single-phase solution of polymeric material and blowing agent in the polymer processing space, and injecting the single-phase solution into a mold or ejecting the single-phase solution from a die. 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising introducing a physical blowing agent into the polymeric material. 7. The method of claim 1, whereint he screw has an L:D ratio between about 20:1 and about 24:1. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the microcellular material has an average cell size of less than 100 microns. 9. A method comprising: replacing a first screw of a first system including only a single screw previously used to process polymeric material with a single replacement screw having an L:D ratio of less than about 24:1 to produce a retrofitted system including the replacement screw mounted in a barrel, the retrofitted system being operable to cyclically inject polymeric material into a mold, or to cyclically eject polymeric material from a die, to form microcellular polymeric material. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting a source of blowing agent to a port to provide a pathway for blowing agent flow from the source to a polymer processing space defined between the replacement screw and the barrel. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the blowing agent is either carbon dioxide or nitrogen. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the port in a barrel of the first system. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the replacement screw includes a restriction element positioned upstream of the downstream end of the replacement screw, the restriction element restricting the upstream flow of polymeric material therethrough during at least a portion of an injection or an ejection cycle. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the replacement screw includes a restriction element positioned upstream of a blowing agent port when the screw is mounted in the barrel. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the replacement screw includes a tip valve positioned at a downstream end of the replacement screw. 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the replacement screw has a length and diameter substantially equal to the length and diameter of the first screw. 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the first screw and the replacement screw have an L:D ratio between about 20:1 and about 24:1. 18. The method of claim 9, wherein the diameter of the replacement screw is less than the diameter of the first screw. 19. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting a control system to components of the retrofitted system, the control system designed to receive inputs from at least one component and send outputs to at least one component. 20. The method of claim 9, wherein the system is an injection molding system that includes an injection mold. 21. The method of claim 9, wherein the system is blow molding system. 22. The method of claim 9, further comprising conveying polymeric material in a downstream direction within a polymer processing space defined between the replacement screw and the barrel, and introducing blowing agent into the polymer processing space to form a polymeric material and blowing agent mixture. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a single-phase solution of polymeric material and blowing agent in the polymer processing space. 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising processing the polymeric material and blowing agent mixture to form a microcellular material. 25. The method of claim 9, wherein the microcellular material has an average cell size of less than 100 microns.
Burnham Theodore A. ; Cha Sung W. ; Walat Robert H. ; Kim Roland Y. ; Anderson Jere R. ; Stevenson James F. ; Suh Nam P. ; Pallaver Matthew, Method and apparatus for microcellular polymer extrusion.
Blizard Kent ; Tupil Srinath ; Malavich William, Method and apparatus for microcellular polypropylene extrusion, and polypropylene articles produced thereby.
Park Chul B.,CAX ; Suh Nam P. ; Baldwin Daniel F., Method for providing continuous processing of microcellular and supermicrocellular foamed materials.
Park Chul B.,CAX ; Suh Nam P. ; Baldwin Daniel F., Method for providing continuous processing of microcellular and supermicrocellular foamed materials.
Yasuike ; Akio ; Odagiri ; Tsutomu ; Toshiba Machine Co. Limited, Method of producing foamed thermoplastic resin articles having smooth and glossy surfaces free from swirl marks and hai.
Martini-Vvedensky Jane E. (Sudbury MA) Suh Nam P. (Falls Church VA) Waldman Francis A. (London GB2), Microcellular closed cell foams and their method of manufacture.
Cha Sung W. (Cambridge MA) Suh Nam P. (Sudbury MA) Baldwin Daniel F. (Medford MA) Park Chul B. (Cambridge MA), Microcellular thermoplastic foamed with supercritical fluid.
Gianni Richard F. (Danville CA) Gianni Daniel E. (Modesto CA) Clement Michael H. (Antioch CA) Meyers Michael R. (Sonoma CA), Process of injection molding thermoplastic foams.
Choe, Patrick Y.; Murphy, Sean B.; Kishbaugh, Levi A., Injection molding systems and methods for forming materials used in footwear and materials manufactured by said systems and methods.
Murphy, Sean B.; Best, Brian Steven; Fisher, Sam, Injection molding systems and methods for forming materials used in footwear and materials manufactured by said systems and methods.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.