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How to Dry Wet Polypropylene Plastic Power

01/26/2013 11:23 AM

We are a UK Recycling Company and looking for ideas on How to Dry wet Polypropylene Plastic Power ?

The water content is 30% The melt temp on the Polypropylene is 120 C

Thank you

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#1

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 11:30 AM

Use a convection oven set at about 110C. If you have enough powder, you might want to conveyor-ize the oven for continuous operation.

Most thermoplastic molding pellets are dried for 4 hours at 125C.

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#2

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 11:30 AM

Heat it up to more than 100 C but less than 120 C while tumbling and blowing air through it.

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#3

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 1:03 PM

I do not understand the desire to tempt fate by bringing the air temperature close to the Polypropylene melting point. Water will evaporate without having to boil the water. The critical factor is to use very dry air. I'd move a large volume of air through a dehumidifier. I prefer the cooling approach of a dehumidifier since it separates the water from the air. You might wish to then raise the air temperature no higher than 50° C to further dry the air before gently blowing this through or over the polypropylene. Infrared heating could also be done in the drying area but again to no higher than a safe temperature (50° C). Depending on how fine of a powder(?) and the volume of material to be dried, I would consider a mixing agitator action to the process.

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#4

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 1:08 PM

I agree with redfred.

I think I'd keep the temp under 100 C., but use a lot of air flow.

At 100 C+ the water will go to steam rapidly. If the water is trapped inside the powder you might get an explosive popcorning effect.

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#5

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 1:26 PM

Vacuum drying might be a good way.

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 2:08 PM

Another good concept!

Much will still depend on how fine of a powder.

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#10
In reply to #5

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/27/2013 6:09 AM

Tornado you have confirmed my way of thinking. We are in the process of doing a trial run.

Thanks Robert

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#11
In reply to #5

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/27/2013 9:36 AM

After the vacuum test upward warm air flow may do the trick prior to compounding into a pellet. Thanks for all the replies.

Robert.

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#7

Re: CEO Robert Eckersley

01/26/2013 3:20 PM

Drying is a function of the difference between the dry-bulb temperature and the wet-bulb temperature, and the ventilation rate. So, any air that has a wet-bulb depression will do.

Push the air in from the bottom, at a rate that expands the powder without fluidising it.

How about some pilot-scale trials? It's an ideal development job for a junior Chemical Engineer.

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#8

Re: How to Dry Wet Polypropylene Plastic Power

01/26/2013 7:36 PM

I would suggest you click on the Search Globalspec link in the upper right corner of your screen and search for plastics drying equipment.

This is a mature industry and there are companies such as Nucon (not a recommendation, I'm just familiar with the name) readily available on Globalspec that can give answers for your specific needs. You will likely wind up needing to procure equipment from one of them anyways, and since you must be dealing with thousands of kilos to make it worthwile to recycle a juryrigged system will probably cost more than it's worth.

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: How to Dry Wet Polypropylene Plastic Power

01/26/2013 9:19 PM

Best answer so far. Good tie in to our blog provider, too.

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#12

Re: How to Dry Wet Polypropylene Plastic Power

02/17/2013 10:34 PM

Vacuum and heat.

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