SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING THERMOPLASTIC POLYMERIC FOAMS, USING CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) AS A FOAMING AGENT.

摘要

System for processing thermoplastic polymeric foams, using carbon dioxide (CO {sub, 2}) as a foaming agent. The production of thermoplastic foams by extrusion using carbonized fluoro nucleating agents (HCFC type), produces high environmental impact and poor properties of the final product. To counteract these disadvantages, extrusion processes have been developed in recent years to obtain thermoplastic foams using CO {sub, 2} as a foaming agent. In the production of foams with CO {sub, 2} it is necessary to control the processing variables to obtain foams with satisfactory and homogeneous properties. Due to the high cost of extruders specially designed for this purpose, it was decided to modify a single spindle extruder, designed to work with HCFC as a foaming agent, adding a static heat exchanger / mixer, a viscometer and a foam needle to the line of production; which allows to control the conditions of processing and obtain a final product of good quality.