A method of producing a bioplastic granulate on the basis of sunflower seed shells or sunflower seed hulls. In the method, ground sunflower seed shells/sunflower seed hull material is provided, wherein the particle size is in the region of 3 mm or less, preferably in the region of 0.01 to 1 mm, preferably in the region of 0.1 to 0.3 mm. A plastic material is provided, which is compounded with the sunflower seed shells/sunflower seed hull material, wherein the compounding operation is preferably effected in an extruder, preferably a double-screw extruder. The compounded material is chopped at the end of the extruder section with a tool with the addition of water, wherein the water is at a temperature of preferably more than 50° C., preferably about 80 to 90° C., to cool down the compound material. During the compounding operation, the compounding material is subjected to atmospheric degassing and/or vacuum degassing.

A method for producing a stabilizer composition for a polymer and a stabilizer composition produced by the method. At least one carboxylic acid is reacted with at least one metal compound, such as at least one metal hydroxide and/or at least one metal oxide and/or at least one metal carbonate, thereby forming a metal carboxylate of the carboxylic acid. The reaction of the carboxylic acid with the metal compound is carried out in a continuous manner in an extruder while reaction water being formed is discharged out of the extruder.

A continuous granulation system for obtaining conditioned granules is disclosed. The system comprises a processor configured to produce a continuous flow of granules at an outlet of the processor. The system also comprises a collection chamber positioned downstream from the processor and configured to collect the granules from the outlet. Further, the system comprises an air displacement device coupled to the collection chamber and configured to create a unidirectional flow of air at the outlet in a direction of the granules exiting the processor and away from the outlet. The unidirectional flow of air conditions the granules obtained in the collection chamber. A continuous granulation method and a continuous granule collection system for obtaining the conditioned granules is also disclosed.

A process to form a “functionalized ethylene-based polymer” from a first composition comprising an ethylene-based polymer and at least one polar compound, and at least one peroxide, said process comprising at least the following: a) thermally treating the first composition, in at least one extruder comprising at least one barrel, to form the functionalized ethylene-based polymer; b) extruding the functionalized ethylene-based polymer, in melt form, to form an extrudate; c) cooling the extrudate; and d) pelletizing the extrudate; and wherein the “efficiency of the peroxide consumption, after the thermal treatment, is ≥91 wt % within the at least one extruder; and wherein the “normalized feed rate” at which the process is nm is ≥0.0018 (lbs/hr)/(mm).sup.3; and wherein, for step c), after the extrudate exits the extruder, and before the extrudate is pelletized, the extrudate is cooled in a cooling medium to a pelletization temperature, T.sub.pel in ° C.), ≤ the crystallization temperature T.sub.c (in ° C.) of the functionalized ethylene-based polymer.

Molded parts for automobile interiors can be made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads. Processes can be used to produce the molded parts from thermoplastic polyurethane.

The invention describes a method for the manufacture of a plasticized polyvinyl alcohol polymer mixture including the steps of introducing a polyvinyl alcohol or a blend thereof having a degree of hydrolysis in the range of 93% to 98% or more into a mixing reactor; adding a processing agent, and a plasticizer to form a reaction mixture; wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of the following compounds and mixtures thereof: (a) sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of: diglycerol, triglycerol, fructose, ribose, xylose, D-mannitol, triacetin, and mixtures thereof; polyols selected from the group consisting of: pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, and mixtures thereof; (b) diols selected from the group consisting of: methyl pentanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-butanediol, and mixtures thereof; (c) glycols selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, alkoxylated polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof; (d) caprolactam, tricyclic trimethylolpropane formal, rosin esters, euricamide, and mixtures thereof; reacting the reaction mixture in a reaction zone to form plasticized polymer; and allowing the plasticized polymer to pass from the reaction zone.

A method of making a non-solid state polyester that includes: a) reacting terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; b) removing the water continuously; c) polymerizing the monomers and oligomers in vacuum conditions at a temperature to form molten polyester having an IV (intrinsic viscosity) of about 0.7 to 0.85 dl/g; d) extruding the molten polyester through a die; e) cutting and quenching the molten polyester, forming polyester pellets; f) drying the polyester pellets and transferring the polyester pellets to a storage vessel; g) transferring the polyester pellets to the upper end of a conditioning vessel while a countercurrent flow of air is circulated through the polyester pellets; and h) transferring the polyester pellets to the top of a crystallizer vessel to form a bed of polyester pellets flowing by gravity towards the bottom of the vessel while a countercurrent flow of nitrogen is circulated through the bed, and heating the polyester pellets, wherein increase of the IV of the polyester pellets is less than about 0.01 to 0.015 dl/g and the polyester pellets have a crystallinity greater than about 52%.

A process can be used for producing (rigid) particle foams from polymer compositions containing at least one polymer having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2 of at least 180° C. with an underwater pelletization system.

A method for manufacturing a heat resistant resin composition having superior dispersibility of maleimide-based copolymer, the method including: a melt-kneading step to melt and knead a maleimide-based copolymer (A) and at least one resin (B) selected from the group consisting of ABS resin, ASA resin, AES resin, and SAN resin with an extruder; wherein: a ratio of a melt viscosity of the maleimide-based copolymer (A) with respect to a melt viscosity of the resin (B) obtained with a shear rate of 120/sec and a cylinder temperature of a kneading unit of the extruder is 1.0 or higher and lower than 3.4, is provided.

A pelletizing apparatus for the production of pellets from a melt flow comprising a pelletizer (12, 112), a cutting chamber (14, 114, 172), and a suspension structure (4, 104) for suspension of the pelletizer (12, 112) and/or the cutting chamber, wherein the suspension structure (4, 104) has a stationary portion (8, 108) and a portion (6, 106) connected rotatably about an axis of rotation (18, 118) to the stationary portion (8, 108) by means of a joint (16, 116).

According to the invention it is proposed that the pivotable portion (6, 106) has a substantially horizontal support arm (20, 120) which extends from the axis of rotation (18, 118) and has a distal end (22, 122), wherein in the region of the distal end (22, 122) the pivotable portion (6, 106) has a support (10, 110) adapted to support the pivotable portion (6, 106) in a vertical direction (24, 124).