TW201731657A - Method of producing microbubbles in polymer using forming machine sufficiently and uniformly mixing microbubbles with fluid polymer by installing a microbubble generating member at a proper position - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of producing microbubbles in a polymer using a forming machine makes a porous portion of a microbubble generating member inserted into a fluid polymer by installing the microbubble generating member at a proper position, such as a mold, a conveying screw or a material pipe. In this way, the microbubbles generated with a high-pressure high-temperature gas passing through the porous portion of the microbubble generating member can be sufficiently and uniformly mixed with the fluid polymer, and then a product having a good foaming effect can be obtained after cooling.

Description

Processing method for generating microbubbles in a polymer by using a forming machine

The present invention relates to a foaming technique, and more particularly to a processing method for producing microbubbles in a polymer by using a forming machine.

In general, the foaming method of the polymer can be roughly divided into the following three types: the first type is mechanical foaming, mainly by mechanically stirring, so that the gas is uniformly mixed into the polymer to form bubbles. The two types are physical foaming, mainly using physical changes of physical foaming agents in the polymer to form bubbles. The third type is chemical foaming, which is mainly explained by the use of chemical foaming agents after being heated. The evolved gas causes bubbles to form inside the polymer.

Different from the foregoing three methods, as previously disclosed in the Republic of China Announcement No. I233877, a gas delivery pipe is embedded in the conveying screw, and a plurality of microporous gas permeable blocks are installed at the front end of the conveying screw, when the pressurized gas enters the gas. The inside of the conveying pipe is then indirectly heated by an electric heater, and after being heated at a high temperature, the gas is output into the fluid polymer by the microporous gas permeable block, so that the gas is mixed with the fluid polymer with the stirring of the conveying screw. Finally, it is injected into a mold, so that the effect of forming bubbles in the polymer can be achieved.

However, in the aforementioned patent, the microporous gas permeable block is buried in the vent hole and substantially flush with the surface of the conveying screw, that is, the microporous gas permeable block can only contact the fluid polymer. The surface does not extend into the interior of the fluid polymer, so it is lost There is no way in the process of exiting the gas to allow the gas to be sufficiently mixed with the fluid polymer, resulting in subsequent problems in the bubbles formed in the polymer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a processing method for producing microbubbles in a polymer by using a forming machine which can increase the mixing effect between the gas and the polymer to enhance the uniformity of distribution of the microbubbles in the polymer.

In order to achieve the above object, the processing method of the first embodiment of the present invention mainly mounts a microbubble generating element in a mold. First, a conveying screw is driven to push a fluid polymer into the mold, so that the fluid polymer is inserted into the porous portion of the microbubble generating element, and then a microbubble generating device is activated to generate a high pressure high temperature gas. The high temperature gas generates a plurality of microbubbles in the mold after passing through the porous portion of the microbubble generating element, and the microbubbles are mixed with the fluid polymer entering the mold, so that the surface can be obtained after cooling. Smooth and internally foamed product.

In the processing method of the second embodiment of the present invention, the microbubble generating element is mainly mounted on a fixing seat, and the fixing seat is interposed between the conveying screw and a mold. First driving the conveying screw to push the fluid polymer, the fluid polymer is inserted into the flow passage of the fixing seat, and then inserted into the porous portion of the microbubble generating element, and then the microbubble generating device is activated to generate the high pressure and high temperature gas. The high-pressure high-temperature gas generates a plurality of microbubbles in the flow channel after passing through the porous portion of the microbubble generating element, and the microbubbles are mixed with the fluid polymer entering the flow channel, so after cooling A product with a smooth surface and internal foaming can be obtained.

The processing method of the third embodiment of the present invention mainly mounts the microbubble generating element to a fixing ring which is attached to the front end of the conveying screw. First driving the conveying screw to push the fluid polymer, so that the fluid polymerization portion is subjected to the microbubble generating element during the flow process Inserting the porous portion, and then starting the microbubble generating device to inject a high-pressure air into an air passage of the conveying screw, the high-pressure air is simultaneously heated during the flow along the air passage, and the high-pressure gas is completed. After heating, the microbubble generating element is introduced from the air passage of the conveying screw, and then a plurality of microbubbles are generated after passing through the porous portion of the microbubble generating element, so that the plurality of microbubbles can be rotated by the conveying screw. Mixing with the fluid polymer.

The processing method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention mainly installs a microbubble generating element at one of the discharge ends of a material tube, and additionally installs a liquid conveying element at one of the feeding ends of the material tube. First, the conveying screw is driven to push the fluid polymer, and the fluid polymer is heated during the flow from the feed end of the tube toward the discharge end of the tube and is made by the porous portion of the microbubble generating element. Inserting, at this time, the liquid conveying member can be used to inject a foaming liquid into the tube, mix the foaming liquid with the fluid polymer, and heat together during the flow, and then start the microbubble generating device. Injecting a high-pressure air into an air passage of the material tube to simultaneously heat the high-pressure air along the air passage, and the high-pressure gas enters the micro-bubble generating element from the air passage of the material tube after the heating is completed. After the porous portion of the microbubble generating element, a plurality of microbubbles are generated in the tube, and the microbubbles can be mixed with the fluid polymer by the rotation of the conveying screw, and further, the foaming liquid is flowing During the process, it will gradually vaporize due to the heating relationship, and after vaporization, a plurality of microbubbles will be generated in the fluid polymer, and the two are matched with each other. A product having good foaming effect.

10‧‧‧Processing machine

12‧‧‧ Fluid Polymer

14‧‧‧Mold

16‧‧‧ entrance end

20‧‧‧ material management

21‧‧‧ Feeding end

22‧‧‧Drawing end

23‧‧‧ Airway

30‧‧‧heater

40‧‧‧Conveying screw

42‧‧‧ airway

44‧‧‧stop ring

50‧‧‧Microbubble generating device

51‧‧‧Pressure cylinder

52‧‧‧ storage cylinder

53‧‧‧Electric heating film

54‧‧‧Microbubble generating components

542‧‧‧Porous Department

55‧‧‧ Fixed seat

552‧‧‧ flow path

56‧‧‧Static mixer

57‧‧‧Fixed ring

58‧‧‧Reverse ring

59‧‧‧pipe

60‧‧‧Liquid transport components

Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of a microbubble generating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the structure of a third embodiment of the present invention, mainly showing a state in which the check ring abuts against the stop ring portion of the conveying screw.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 and mainly shows the state in which the check ring is released from the stop ring portion of the conveying screw.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the structure of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic view showing the structure of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the processing method of the present invention is performed by a processing machine 10, which in this embodiment is an extrusion molding machine and includes a material tube 20, a heater 30, and a conveying device. The screw 40 is disposed on the outer periphery of the material tube 20 for melting the solid polymer into the fluid polymer 12, and the conveying screw 40 is disposed in the material tube 20 for moving the fluid polymer 12 to a mold 14. In the direction of pushing, in addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the forming machine 10 has a microbubble generating device 50, which may be an air compressor or other equivalent air pressurizing device. In the example, the microbubble generating device 50 has a pressurizing cylinder 51, a storage cylinder 52, a plurality of electric heating fins 53, and a plurality of microbubble generating members 54 for increasing the pressure of the air injected from the outside. 52 is connected to the pressurizing cylinder 51 for storing the pressurized air. The heating fin 53 is mounted on the outer periphery of the cylinder 52 for heating the air stored in the cylinder 52, and the microbubble generating element 54 is connected to the storage. Cylinder 52 for outputting a high Press high temperature air. In addition, the material of the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating element 54 may be metal, ceramic or a mixture of metal and ceramic, which is not particularly limited. In the first embodiment of the present invention, each microbubble generating element 54 is mounted on the mold. One of the inlet ends 16 has a porous portion 542 that projects into the mold 14.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the processing method of the first embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step a): Driving the conveying screw 40 pushes the fluid polymer 12 into the mold 14, which is inserted by the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54 after the fluid polymer 12 flows into the mold 14.

Step b): the microbubble generating device 50 is activated to generate a high pressure high temperature gas. When the high pressure high temperature gas passes through the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating element 54, a plurality of microbubbles are generated in the fluid polymer 12, and the microbubbles can The fluid polymer 12 entering the mold 14 is mixed, and after cooling, a polymer product having a good foaming effect can be obtained.

Referring to Fig. 3, the processing method of the second embodiment of the present invention can be carried out by using an extrusion molding machine or an injection molding machine, and the difference from the first embodiment is that the microbubble generating elements 54 are installed in an inclined manner. In a fixed seat 55, the fixing seat 55 is interposed between the conveying screw 40 and the die 14 and has a first-stage passage 552 for the passage of the fluid polymer 12, and the micro-bubble generating member 54 has a porous portion 542 extending into the flow passage 552. Thereby, the microbubbles generated by the microbubble generating elements 54 can be injected into the fluid polymer 12 in a low pressure manner. Further, the microbubble generating device 50 further has a static mixer 56, and the static mixer 56 is mounted on the fixing seat 55. The flow path 552 is interposed between the microbubble generating element 54 and the mold 14 to enable smooth mixing between the microbubbles and the fluid polymer 12. As apparent from the above, the processing method of the second embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step a): driving the conveying screw 40 to push the fluid polymer 12, when the fluid polymer 12 flows into the flow passage 552 of the fixing seat 55, it is inserted by the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54, and then flows through the fixing seat 55. The track 552 is then injected into the mold 14.

Step b): the microbubble generating device 50 is activated to generate a high pressure high temperature gas, and when the high pressure high temperature gas passes through the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54, a plurality of microbubbles are generated in the fluid polymer 12, followed by static mixing. The 56 allows these microbubbles to enter the flow channel The fluid polymer 12 in the 552 is thoroughly mixed, and after it is cooled into the mold 14, a polymer product having a good foaming effect can be obtained.

Referring to Fig. 4, the processing method of the third embodiment of the present invention is performed by an injection molding machine, and is different in structure from the first and second embodiments described above in that each microbubble generating element 54 is radially mounted. A fixing ring 57 is attached to the front end of the conveying screw 40, and the porous portion 542 of each microbubble generating member 54 protrudes from the surface of the conveying screw 40. Further, each of the microbubble generating members 54 is connected to an air compressor. The microbubble generating device 50 is formed (not shown), and a static mixer 56 is provided at the front end of the conveying screw 40. As described above, the processing method of the third embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step a): Driving the conveying screw 40 to push the fluid polymer 12 so that the fluid polymer 12 is inserted by the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54 during the flow.

Step b): The air compressor that activates the microbubble generating device 50 injects a high pressure air into the air passage 42 of one of the conveying screws 40 to simultaneously heat the high pressure air along the air passage 42 while being heated by the heater 30.

Step c): after the completion of the heating, the high pressure gas enters the microbubble generating element 54 from the air passage 42 of the conveying screw 40, and then a plurality of microbubbles are generated after passing through the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54, so that the microbubbles can The fluid polymer 12 is mixed by the rotation of the conveying screw 40 and further can be mixed again via the static mixer when it is injected after mixing.

On the other hand, the front end of the conveying screw 40 has a stop ring portion 44 adjacent to the fixing ring 57, and the front end of the conveying screw 40 is sleeved with a check ring 58, as shown in Fig. 5, when the conveying screw 40 starts When the material is rotated for rotation, the check ring 58 is disengaged from the stop ring portion 44 of the conveying screw 40, so that the inside of the material tube 20 can be stored to a volume sufficient to accommodate the high-pressure high-temperature gas and the fluid polymer 12 when the fluid polymer 12 is ejected. During the process into the mold 14, the check ring 58 will abut against the conveying screw 40. The stop ring portion 44 prevents the fluid polymer 12 from flowing back and prevents the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54 from being blocked by the fine molecules generated by the fluid polymer 12 when it is injected at a high pressure.

Referring to Fig. 6, the processing method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is carried out by using an extrusion molding machine. The difference in the foregoing embodiments is that the microbubble generating member 54 is attached to the discharge end 22 of one of the tubes 20. The porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating member 54 is inserted into the material tube 20. Further, each of the microbubble generating members 54 is connected to an air compressor (not shown) to form the microbubble generating device 50. The processing method of the fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps:

Step a): driving the conveying screw 40 to push the fluid polymer 12, which is heated by the heater 30 during the flow of the fluid polymer 12 from the feed end 21 of the feed pipe 20 toward the discharge end 22 of the feed pipe 20 and The porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating element 54 is inserted.

Step b): The air compressor that activates the microbubble generating device 50 injects high pressure air into one of the air passages 23 of the feed pipe 20 to simultaneously heat the high pressure air along the air passage 23 while being heated by the heater 30.

Step c): after the completion of the heating, the high pressure gas enters the microbubble generating element 54 from the air passage of the tube 20 via a line 59, and then a plurality of microbubbles are generated after passing through the porous portion 542 of the microbubble generating element 54. The microbubbles can be mixed with the fluid polymer 12 during the rotation of the conveying screw 40.

On the other hand, the microbubble generating device 50 further has a liquid conveying member 60 which is mounted to the feeding end 21 of one of the feeding tubes 20 and which projects into the feeding tube 20, whereby in the aforementioned step a) A liquid foaming element 60 is used to inject a foaming liquid into the tube 20, and the foaming liquid is mixed with the fluid polymer 12 and heated together by the heater 30 during the flow, when the foaming liquid is vaporized. A plurality of microbubbles are generated in the fluid polymer 12, and these microbubbles can cooperate with the microbubbles generated by the microbubble generating member 54 to impart a good foaming effect to the polymer product.

It should be additionally noted that, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the microbubble generating element 54 and the liquid transporting element 60 do not have to be disposed at the same time, and one of them may be set according to actual needs, as shown in FIG. The bubble generating member 54 is disposed at the same time as the liquid transporting member 60, and FIG. 7 shows that only the microbubble generating member 54 is provided, and in FIG. 8, the liquid transporting member 60 is provided without the microbubble generating member 54 being disposed. However, no matter which setting is made, the microbubbles generated by the two can make the polymer product have a good foaming effect, and of course, it is possible to achieve an optimum effect by setting two at the same time.

In summary, the processing method of the present invention mainly inserts the microbubble generating element 54 into the fluid polymer 12, and the contact area between them can be significantly increased compared with the conventional technique, so the amount of gas entering the fluid polymer 12 is also It can be increased accordingly, so that the microbubbles can be uniformly dispersed in the fluid polymer 12, thereby achieving the object of the present invention.

12‧‧‧ Fluid Polymer

14‧‧‧Mold

16‧‧‧ entrance end

40‧‧‧Conveying screw

54‧‧‧Microbubble generating components

542‧‧‧Porous Department

Claims (2)

A processing method for generating microbubbles in a polymer by using a forming machine, the processing machine comprising a material tube, a conveying screw and a micro bubble generating device, the material tube having a feeding end and a discharging end, a conveying screw is disposed in the feeding tube, the microbubble generating device has a microbubble generating element mounted on the discharge end of the tube and having a porous portion extending into the tube, the processing The method comprises the steps of: a) driving the conveying screw to push a fluid polymer, the fluid polymer heating during the flow from the feed end of the tube toward the discharge end of the tube and being Inserting the porous portion of the bubble generating member; b) activating the microbubble generating device to inject a high pressure air into an air passage of the tube to simultaneously heat the high pressure air along the air passage; and c) The high-pressure gas enters the micro-bubble generating element from the air passage of the tube after completion of heating, and then generates a plurality of micro-bubbles after passing through the porous portion of the micro-bubble generating element, so that A plurality of microbubbles can be mixed with the polymer by the fluid of the rotation of the conveying screw. A processing method for generating microbubbles in a polymer by using a forming machine according to claim 1, wherein the microbubble generating device further has a liquid conveying member mounted on a feeding end of the tube, In the step a), the liquid transporting member is used to inject a foaming liquid into the tube, and the foaming liquid is mixed with the fluid polymer and heated together during the flow to make the foaming liquid after gasification A plurality of microbubbles are produced in the fluid polymer.