Compounding

In compounding, various materials (polymers, additives, etc.) are mixed and melted—generally in an extruder of some type—then pelletized. Most compounding extruders purchased nowadays are of the twin-screw corotating/intermeshing variety, though counterrotating twins are used for some applications. Compounding extrusion lines are typically equipped with gravimetric feeding systems that dose materials into the extruders at very specific rates. In certain applications, extruders are equipped with vent ports that pull unwanted moisture and other volatiles from the polymer stream.

Research Deems Bioplastics, Wood Pulp a Sustainable, Economic Alternative for Rigid Packaging
Compounding

Research Deems Bioplastics, Wood Pulp a Sustainable, Economic Alternative for Rigid Packaging

Farrel Pomini and FPInnovations produce biodegradable compound for molding, extrusion and thermoforming applications.

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ESSENTIAL READING

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Extrusion

What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder

Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.

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Multiscrew

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder for Mixing: Part 5

Understand the differences between distributive and dispersive mixing, and how you can promote one or the other in your screw design.

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Know-How

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder: Part 3

The melting mechanism in a twin-screw extruder is quite different from that of a single screw. Design of the melting section affects how the material is melted, as well as melt temperature and quality.

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Know-How

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder -- Part 2

Follow these tips to configure your twin-screw elements to promote feeding and solids conveying.

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best practices

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Barrel Layout

In twin-screw compounding, most engineers recognize the benefits of being able to configure screw elements. Here’s what you need to know about sequencing barrel sections.  

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Commodity Resins

Improving Twin-Screw Compounding of Reinforced Polyolefins

Compounders face a number of processing challenges when incorporating a high loading of low-bulk-density mineral filler into polyolefins. Here are some possible solutions.

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Equipment innovation
Repair and Rectify
New Tinius Olsen VectorExtensometer testing

Latest Compounding News And Updates

NPE

Standardized Extruder Can Be Used Anywhere

Machine can be manufactured anywhere the customer is with the same specifications, design, support and goal to advance their materials.  

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Compounding

Schenck Process FPM Becoming Coperion

Name change to become official in August 2024.

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Compounding

SmartChronos Licensed to Kneader Manufacturer

Industry 4.0 platform, developed then spun off by compounder Alterra, to be used by X-Compound in its lab.  

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Compounding

PVC Compounder Adds Mixing Capacity

Concord Compounding adds two new Farrel continuous mixers.  

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Compounding

Shibaura Machine, NFM Extend License Agreement on Twin-Screw Compounders

NFM to manufacture and sell TEM series of twin-screw compounding extruders for the next 10 years.  

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New Machines, Spare Parts and Auxiliaries for Compounding

NPE2024: ENTEK displaying a range of products at the May show.

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New 2024 Twin Screw Report
Purgex: Made in the USA. Trusted Globally.
Gardner Business Media, Inc.
We ❤ Powders
CM-17d

Featured Posts

Compounding

Small Batches, Big Success

With no minimum order and an impeccable record of on-time delivery, Precision Color Compounds is becoming a force in the color masterbatch business.

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Compounding

Safety, Recycling, and Compounding Trends Bring New Opportunity to 70-Year-Old Company

NPE2024: Vac-U-Max presents pneumatic conveying solutions for powdered materials.

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Know-How

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder for Mixing: Part 5

Understand the differences between distributive and dispersive mixing, and how you can promote one or the other in your screw design.

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Multiscrew

Strategically Manage Pressure to Help Ensure Quality in Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extrusion

Pressure measurement provides an invaluable window into any extrusion process, but it must also be strategically managed at every stage of the process to ensure a quality part is being extruded.

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sustainability

Engineering Resins Compounder Expands to Take on More Scrap

Polymer Resources responds to sustainability push by upgrading plant with grinding and shredding equipment to take on both postindustrial and postconsumer reclaim.  

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Compounding

Processing Megatrends Drive New Product Developments at NPE2024

It’s all about sustainability and the circular economy, and it will be on display in Orlando across all the major processes. But there will be plenty to see in automation, AI and machine learning as well.

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Vector Extensometer
Dri-Air
CM-17d
Shibaura Machine Industrial IoT machiNetCloud
Guill - World Leader in Extrusion Tooling

FAQ: Compounding

How can I optimize my twin-screw compounding process?

We identify problems in compounding as “chronic” if the results are the same every time a particular formulation is run. For these problems, the treatment requires redesigning the screw configuration or modifying the compounding process. This is the only way to cure such problems.

Many new players have emerged in the biopolymer space with new materials and many new formulations. Co-rotating twin-screw extruders provide excellent material mixing capabilities for all polymers, including biopolymers. You should consider your machinery supplier as a development partner to achieve your goals in the areas of melt and mix quality, production rates, and other parameters, regardless of formulation. Make sure your machinery supplier has the facilities and the know-how to help you test material formulations and improve your processes.

Pelletizers are essential components in resin manufacture, compounding, masterbatch production, and recycling. A high-volume system that is appropriate for a polymerization plant will be very different from one that suits the needs of a toll compounder. One that can produce micropellets for use in masterbatch may not be the best choice for processing post-consumer regrind. Here are some different types of pelletizers.

  • UNDERWATER PELLETIZERS
  • WATERRING PELLETIZERS
  • STRAND PELLETIZERS
Everyday circularity
Shuttle Mold System
Masters of Blending
Flow Meters display cooling water flow and temp
Flow Meters display cooling water flow and temp

Compounding Supplier Categories

Shuttle Mold System