By Bruce Geiselman
Labtech Engineering Co. Ltd. has developed a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) blown film line for laboratory and pilot plant production.
The company said it believes it is the first fully functional laboratory and pilot line for LCP blown film.
LCPs are anisotropic polymers used in electronics, anticorrosive liners, high-barrier films and containers. LCP film is valued for its barrier and mechanical properties, including rigidity, strength and heat resistance.
The new line includes a 30mm single-screw extruder equipped with a special screw, a drying hopper with a maximum temperature of 320 degrees Fahrenheit, a sight glass to monitor the material level and a tri-rotating die with spiral-flow distribution channels.
The tri-rotating die performs multi-axial orientation during the melting process, which helps produce film with excellent mechanical properties and prevents curling during cooling, the company said. The die, designed in-house, can produce a film with a maximum layflat width of 500mm.
Located above the die is a dual-lip air-cooling ring followed by an annealing chamber for cooling and eliminating residual stress in the film bubble.
The line includes a bubble-stabilizing cage made with Teflon rollers.
The line is designed for easy access to all the film blowing components. Electric cables and water pipes are inside the base platform, which provides a clean appearance with few visible connections. The base platform has a diamond-plate steel surface to prevent the operator from slipping.
A steel staircase with a steel platform and handrails provides convenient access and support, making it easy for the operator to pull the film and feed it through the tower nip rolls. All electrical parts are mounted in the main electric cabinet for safe access and easy maintenance.
The downstream stations of the line include an edge trimmer with a set of rubber nip rolls, an automatic web tension controller and a two-station windup unit.
The 10.4-inch LCD touchscreen control is fully computerized to control all processing parameters. It also features start, stop and E-stop buttons. The control includes an Ethernet port that can be connected to a personal computer.
Contact
Labtech Engineering Co. Ltd., Praksa, Thailand, 66-2-709-6959, www.labtechengineering.com
Bruce Geiselman | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.
Brückner Group announces management changes
