The invention relates to an extrusion process for the production of expandable vinyl aromatic polymer granulate comprising mixing first and second additives with first and second polymer components, respectively, in dedicated mixers.

In the manufacturing method and manufacturing arrangement according to the invention for a silicone composition the mixer mixing the different subcomponents of the silicone composition are removed for the duration of downtime and cooled to a temperature, in which the chemical reaction between the different subcomponents of the silicone composition stops. In the manufacturing method of the invention the mixer is reconnected to the manufacturing apparatus arrangement after downtime without cleaning it from the silicone composition subcomponents remaining in the mixer.

Rubber to be recycled is first ground to rubber crumb and then is transferred to a plasticizing unit. The rubber to be recycled is mixed with chemicals including an aromatic, environmental-friendly, low volatility reaction oil, a thickening agent and an activator. This mixture is heated to a desired temperature under anaerobic conditions and then is maintained at that temperature for a suitable time. The processed material is then transferred to a cooling unit in which it is cooled to a temperature below 60 C. prior to being released from the machine.

A color 3D printer and its method of use are disclosed. The color 3D printer uses a number of chambers to dye a filament to a given color. This colored filament is then extruded, pursuant to an associated 3D model of an object, to produce varying colored physical objects, on demand, with the use of a single filament and a single print head. Further, the color 3D printer features a waste management apparatus which provides a number of ways to dispose of waste fluid.

The invention relates to a device for metering bulk material, in particular plastics granulate, for machines processing plastics granulate, in particular for injection molding machines, wherein at least one material funnel (2) into which bulk material can be filled and which has a material valve is provided. A weighing container (4) connected to weighing scales is optionally arranged below the material valve. A control unit is provided for the weighing scales and material valves. The material valve is designed as a metering valve (3), in particular as a flap-type metering valve. The metering valve (3) consists of a part, a closure (7), movable via a horizontal axis (6) and a fixed part, a scraper (8). The movable part has an operating arm (9) for an actuator (5) and at the end facing towards the fixed part has a closure plate (10) having a scraper projection (11). In the closed state of the metering valve (3) the scraper projection (11) touches the scraper (8).

The invention provides a carbon-neutral biaxially stretched polyamide film containing a raw material derived from biomass and having high heat-resistance, impact resistance, and folding pinhole resistance, as well as decreased variability in a degree of biomass in the mechanical (longitudinal) direction. The biaxially stretched polyamide film roll contains biaxially stretched polyamide film containing 70-99% by mass of polyamide 6 resin and 1-30% by mass of a polyamide resin in which at least a part of a raw material is derived from biomass, wherein the film roll has a winding length of from 1,000 m to 60,000 m, a width of from 400 mm to 3,000 mm, and variability in a degree of biomass of 15% or less based on radiocarbon .sup.14C measurement of a biaxially stretched polyamide film sample taken from a surface to a core of the film roll at an interval of 1000 m in an MD direction.

A drying device includes a mixing unit fixedly connected with a drying unit. The drying unit is erected on a bench. The mixing unit includes a virgin material loader and a regrind material loader, which are respectively connected to the top of a mixing component. The bottom of the mixing component is connected with a drying unit through a buffer hopper with level sensor. A drying process with the functions of mixing and drying plastic particles integrates the mixing process and the drying process into a set of processes, saving the control cost and working space. The regrind materials are directly fed by the suction device above the equipment, which can be used as soon as they are produced, reducing the cost of manual treatment and reducing the absorption of air moisture. The user can control the mixing proportion and drying parameters on the control panel at the same time.

A system for measurement quality verification may form part of an installation located at a site that manufactures rubber mixtures. The system may include a weighing platform having a scale for determining a weight loss of the metered raw materials, a metering device having a metering hopper that receives the raw materials required for performing one or more rubber mixing processes and a metering device that meters the raw materials into the metering hopper in real time, an application and removal system that allows for application and removal of one or more calibration weights relative to the weighing platform, and a motion system that facilitates reciprocating vertical movement of the metering device. An installation may incorporate the above system, and a continuous metering process may be performed by the installation.