SOFT PVC COMPOUNDING EXTRUDER DESIGN

Abstract

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most preferred thermoplastics in the world due to its compatibility with various additives. PVC products are examined in two groups soft and rigid. Sheath, insulation, and filling materials used in electrical cables are some of the common usage areas of soft PVC. In this study, a soft PVC compound extruder machine was designed and manufactured. The system consists of 6 components: powder feeding system, main rotor, discharge transfer screw system, pelletizer, pellet cooling (cooler) unit and main control panel (HMI). In the designed and produced machine, the temperature values can be entered into the HMI panel according to the desired formulation, and the temperatures of the desired sections can be controlled during the compound production using thermocouples. Heating is brought to the desired level using PID control with resistances, cooling with fans in the main screw area and water in the transfer area. During the compound production process, many values such as temperature and pressure values can be controlled from the material feeding section to the pelletizer section. The density of the soft PVC compound produced was measured as 1.475 gr/cm3 . The test sample was produced from PVC compound, which was produced via the compounder designed and manufactured in this study, with a laboratory-type extruder. Tensile and elongation tests were carried out according to the ISO 527-2 test method. As a result of the test, it was observed that produced soft PVC compound extended by 280%. As a result of the experiments, it has been determined that the designed and manufactured compounder machine produces the sheath, insulation and filling materials (Plasticized PVC) used in the electrical cables appropriately.