A treatment system for plastic material includes a feeding device, a treatment unit, and a plasticizing device arranged downstream thereof. The treatment unit has a comminuting device and a conveying device which are received in a housing. An outlet opening is arranged in an end region of a conveying section of the conveying device. The plasticizing device has an extruder screw which is received in an extruder housing. The extruder housing is equipped with a filling opening which is arranged so as to directly adjoin the outlet opening arranged in the housing. In the region of the outlet opening, the conveying device has a circulating direction which runs in the opposite direction of the conveying direction of the extruder screw.

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.

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.

A method of forming an electrode for an electrochemical device includes mixing at least a first amount of a catalyst and a second amount of an ionomer or an uncharged polymer to form a liquid mixture; delivering the liquid mixture into a metallic needle having a needle tip; applying a voltage between the needle tip and a collector substrate positioned at a distance from the needle tip; and extruding the liquid mixture from the needle tip at a flow rate such as to generate electrospun fibers and deposit the generated fibers on the collector substrate to form a mat comprising a porous network of fibers, where each fiber has a plurality of particles of the catalyst distributed thereon.

A device for imparting vibrational energy to polymeric pellets in a feed path of an extruder is disclosed. The device includes a feed path vibrator having an elongate imparting portion for being disposed within the feed path of the extruder, and a transfer portion extending from the imparting portion. The transfer portion is configured for coupling to a source of vibration energy, and the elongate imparting portion includes at least one twisted portion along its length.

A method and an apparatus for rapid and efficient heating of polymer pellets in preparation for processing in a plastifier. For introduction of heat energy, a gas, preferably dried air, is introduced into the polymer pellets flow so as not to be in direct countercurrent thereto. The gas is preferably introduced in its still hottest state in a targeted fashion, for the purpose of rapid energy input, at a freely selectable location. This preferably takes place at the material output of the booster hopper. The gas is preferably conducted by way of cascades, which can be of a variable design, and flows through the bulk material at least twice. The speed of the flow can be influenced.

Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.

A distribution system for a wetting liquid supplied to spinning nozzles of an air-jet spinning machine includes a supply pipe for the wetting liquid supplied to the spinning nozzles. At least one UV light emitting diode is arranged in the supply pipe, wherein the UV radiation emitted by the UV light emitting diode passes through the wetting liquid to disinfect the wetting liquid.

A process for treating polymer granular material (2) comprising the steps of heating and drying the polymer granular material in a drying hopper (10) by means of a drying gas, discharging a portion of the polymer granular material into an extruder (101), inside which the polymer granular material is brought to a molten or semi-molten state and transported along the extruder by a rotating screw (104) in order to be injected into a mould (102) or caused to pass through an extrusion head. The process provides for measuring a control parameter which is correlated with the rotation of the screw inside the extruder and regulating the flow rate of the drying gas on the basis of the control parameter.

An extruder (100) for comestible material comprises a tubular barrel (104) and one or more elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screws (120, 122) within the barrel (104), where the barrel (104) has a delivery opening (114a). The extruder barrel (104) is equipped with an assembly (22) for delivery of fluid to the interior thereof, including a static mixing section (54) operable to blend the steam and water to create a blended mixture; the blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by means of a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).