Maximum flexibility in PET production
Sachtleben introduces new TiO2 grade for the direct matting process
PET products for diverse markets are characterized, in addition to specific adjustments of the polymer itself, by varying levels – ranging from as much as around 20 to 0 % - of particulate additives, which in conventional plant designs are typically added at a very early stage of the process. The larger a single line becomes, the more critical any changeover from one product grade to another. The solution to this problem is provided by direct matting (also known as "melt-conditioning") technologies which are designed to permit operation of ultra-high-capacity lines with the maximum possible flexibility.
Direct matting technology is an extremely attractive tool for modern plant engineering, since it combines the economy-of-scale benefits of ultra-high-capacity PET polycondensation lines with a flexibility for trouble-free product changes that can usually only be attained on small batch-operated systems, with consequent poor cost-efficiency. The successful development of a dedicated titanium dioxide grade for the direct matting process now underlines Sachtleben's renown as the technology leader in TiO2 delustrants for the MMF industry. The system is an outstanding example of an advanced technical concept that exploits diverse capabilities and disciplines in engineering and chemicals development. Its market success derives from the perfectly synchronized development of the necessary hardware parallel to that of the corresponding functional additives, such as the new TiO2 delustrant. The process's overall benefits for the PET producer are set to become even more apparent when further additives follow, extending the range of applications and making the system a true, integrated, technology platform.
Visit the Sachtleben stand (Stand 64/Hall 8b) at the K polymer industry exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 24 to 31, 2007, for more information.
[Source: Communication] [October 2007] Overview