Design and scale-up of a semi-industrial downer-reactor for the rounding of irregular polymer particles

Peukert W, Sachs M, Schmidt J, Wirth KE (2016)


Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Conference Contribution

Publication year: 2016

Publisher: American Institute of Physics Inc.

Book Volume: 1713

Pages Range: 070003-1 - 070003-5

Article Number: 70003

Conference Proceedings Title: AIP Conference Proceedings 1713

Event location: Jeju Island Korea KR

ISBN: 9780735413603

DOI: 10.1063/1.4942289

Abstract

The recent development of rapid prototyping technologies towards additive manufacturing reveals some major drawbacks of processes such as laser beam melting (LBM). This contribution focuses on the lack of suitable polymer material with a fine particle size and good flowability. Polymer particles obtained by a wet grinding process 1 are treated in a heated downer reactor. This treatment changes the particles' morphology from a chiselled state towards a spherical form by surface tension forces in a molten state 2 and leads to an improved flowability. To reach the required amount of rounded polymer powder, a downer reactor in semi-industrial scale has been established and will be characterized in this article. For the purpose of particle rounding it is necessary to avoid contact of molten particles with each other and with the hot reactor walls. Furthermore, the heat distribution has been investigated as one of the key parameters of the process. Finally, a proof of concept by rounding wet grinded PBT material was successfully conducted. The product was examined to obtain data about a change in particle size and flowability.

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How to cite

APA:

Peukert, W., Sachs, M., Schmidt, J., & Wirth, K.-E. (2016). Design and scale-up of a semi-industrial downer-reactor for the rounding of irregular polymer particles. In 2016 AIP Publishing LLC (Eds.), AIP Conference Proceedings 1713 (pp. 070003-1 - 070003-5). Jeju Island Korea, KR: American Institute of Physics Inc..

MLA:

Peukert, Wolfgang, et al. "Design and scale-up of a semi-industrial downer-reactor for the rounding of irregular polymer particles." Proceedings of the 31st International Conference of the Polymer Processing Society, PPS 2015, Jeju Island Korea Ed. 2016 AIP Publishing LLC, American Institute of Physics Inc., 2016. 070003-1 - 070003-5.

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