A latex processing system and method involves mixing a latex and at least one solvent blend in an extruder, in order to remove resin found in the latex and to coagulate the latex to form a coagulum. The at least one solvent blend has a first solvent configured to coagulate the latex, and a second solvent configured to swell the resulting coagulum. In particular, a series of the solvent blends may be used at different locations along a length of the extruder, and may further include distinct blends of the first solvent and the second solvent, introduced at the different locations, and having different ratios of the first solvent and the second solvent.

A latex processing system and method involves mixing a latex and at least one solvent blend in an extruder, in order to remove resin found in the latex and to coagulate the latex to form a coagulum. The at least one solvent blend has a first solvent configured to coagulate the latex, and a second solvent configured to swell the resulting coagulum. In particular, a series of the solvent blends may be used at different locations along a length of the extruder, and may further include distinct blends of the first solvent and the second solvent, introduced at the different locations, and having different ratios of the first solvent and the second solvent.

Embodiments of the invention describe methods and apparatus for mixing chemical components in the manufacture of polyurethane foam. The chemical components include a polyol and different blowing agents. The blowing agents are injected directly into a mixing chamber (100) at different height levels according to their boiling points. The mixing chamber allows continuous discharge of the mixture into a static mixer (400) for further mixing before being stored into a storage tank (600). The blowing agents are chemical compounds selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon-containing compounds, hydrofluorocarbon-containing compounds or hydrofluoroolefin-containing compounds.

Embodiments of the invention describe methods and apparatus for mixing chemical components in the manufacture of polyurethane foam. The chemical components include a polyol and different blowing agents. The blowing agents are injected directly into a mixing chamber (100) at different height levels according to their boiling points. The mixing chamber allows continuous discharge of the mixture into a static mixer (400) for further mixing before being stored into a storage tank (600). The blowing agents are chemical compounds selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon-containing compounds, hydrofluorocarbon-containing compounds or hydrofluoroolefin-containing compounds.

A component feed nozzle includes a housing, which has a component inlet and a component outlet, a piston-shaped closing body, which is slidably supported in the housing and which can be moved back and forth axially. The component outlet is closed by the front end of the closing body in a first position and the component outlet is released or opened in a second position. The component feed nozzle has a membrane seal, which is fastened to the rear end of the closing body and to the housing in such a way that the closing body is completely on one face of the membrane seal. The housing and/or the closing body are designed in such a way that the component reaches all surfaces of the closing body and thus the component pressure is applied to the complete effective surface of the membrane.

A method and high-pressure mixing device for co-injection of polymeric reactive components, in particular for polyurethane and epoxy mixtures. The polymeric components are supplied in a common pressure chamber where they flow at a same pressure and in an unmixed state into a forwardly converging fore portion of the pressure chamber, and through a settable co-injection orifice to be co-injected, in the unmixed state, into a mixing chamber transversely oriented to the pressure chamber. The settable co-injection orifice consists in an elongated restriction that longitudinally extends on a side wall of the mixing chamber orthogonally oriented to an intersecting the forwardly converging fore portion of the pressure chamber; a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member are sequentially reciprocable in the pressure chamber to eject the remaining unmixed polymeric components, respectively in the mixing chamber to eject the remaining mixture, and stop elements are provided to set an open section of the elongated restriction, by adjustably stopping the fore end of the cleaning member for the mixing chamber, in respect to the same elongated restriction of the co-injection orifice.

A mixing device is provided for a closed resin infusion process. The mixing device includes a bulk mixing head with a mixing cavity, at least two separate non-return valves for opening and closing a respective channel for providing material to be mixed running into the mixing cavity. A removable flange is provided for closing the mixing cavity comprising a fitting for mounting the mixing device to a static mixer. At least one heating element is provided for curing the hardable material mixture in the mixing cavity if need be.

A melting device includes a container capable of melting a material supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the material in a liquid state. The container includes a first storage section for storing the material in the free-flowing state, a second storage section for storing the material in the liquid state, and a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the material, when the material is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the material from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the material is in a molten or liquid state.

An apparatus for removing material residue from an external mixing element as it is being withdrawn from an external vessel containing the material mixed by the mixing element. The apparatus includes a stationary support member, a repositionable support assembly, and a rotatable material stripping element held captive by at least one element of the repositionable support assembly.

Apparatus for injection of fluid into an extruder is provided, including a static mixer section with a pipe assembly coupled with the static mixer outlet and leading to the extruder barrel; the pipe assembly outlet and barrel injection opening have diameters less than the maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used with extruders, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extruder.