Nanoforce Technology Limited > Polymer Processing

Polymer Processing

Nanospider

Nanospider, UK first, allows nanofibers to be produced on an industrial scale for a number of applications.

The Nanospider is able to spin a range of different polymers into fibres of differing diameters from namometer to micrometer where the traditional electrospinning with nozzles is from micrometer to millimeter. Operation of the Nanospider allows large scale spinning using a spinning head which is shaped as a cylinder and partly dipped in the required polymer present as a solution. The rotating cylinder separates a thin polymer layer from the polymer solution from which fibres are stretched toward the top electrode under the action of an applied voltage. Nanofibres are deposited in the form of dispersed nanofibres, typically layered on a rolling strip of substrate fabric acting as the top electrode.

It is free liquid surface electrospinning that allows the electric field to optimize the distance between Taylor cones, rather than setting the distance arbitrarily. The main advantage of this technology is mechanical simplicity.

Injection Moulding

The machine can be used for making parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials in production. Using a toggle-lock mechanism, molten plastic is injected into a mold using a 35 tonne clamping force. The machine can be used to produce bottle caps, outdoor furniture and a variety of parts, from the smallest component to entire body panels of cars.

Micro Moulding injection machine (BabyPlast)

Ideal for all engineering materials such as glass-filled and high-temperature polymers The machine has a specially designed plasticising chamber which feeds a micro-plunger for very accurate injection. The device has an Auto-purge facility for simple start-up and shut-down and Micro pellets are not required

At Nanoforce the machine is frequently used to produce dumbbell shaped test specimens.

Electro-spinning unit

Our ES unit is used to produce uniform polymer nanofibers and uses a standard setup which consists of a spinneret with a metallic needle, a syringe pump, a high-voltage power supply, and a grounded collector. The machine can be used to produce multifunctional fabrics and warrant the investigation of novel textile manufacturing technologies.

Mini-extruder

Our mini-extruder has a volume of 15ml has a temperature range of room temp to 350 ^oC. It also has a water cooling jacket to aid cooling and temperature accuracy

The extruder can be fit with fibre and tape dies for the direct extrusion of fibres and tapes. Normally Nanoforce extrude a strand and chop, then post press using, a hot press (for example) to produce the desired sample.

The machine has computer telemetry giving data indicative of the viscosity, which (can be) proportional (or at least related) to the mixing efficiency.

Single Screw Extruders x4

Primarily used for Extruding thermoplastics and elastomers in small and large batches, our SSE¡¯s are used to create long plastic objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile and drawn through a die of the desired profile shape. Post extrusion the polymer material can be designed for enhanced optical, mechanical and stuctural properties.

They are also suitable for processing polymer material at very small through put rates as required for research and development applications.

Film blowing unit with co-extrusion die

Blow films like our BL50T are for the production of multi-layer composites. The system we used is also suitable for the production of small films used by the food industry or the medical field and plastic bags.

Our Film blowing tower can also be used to demonstrate and test the properties of polymers such as there, optical appearance, haze, stretchability, maximum blow-up ratio, homogenisation performance of the extruder, gels, agglomerates and contaminants dispersion of pigments and other additives

Platen Hot-Press

Our Laboratory Platen Hot press is for carrying out simple pressings in the plastics, rubber, ceramics and polymer industries. For instance it can be used to produce, Thin films from 10 to 100 μm, Sheets from 1 to 20 mm, Laminations, backing/substrate material.

Hot and Cold Rolling

The machine enables a wide range of polymers, especially PE, PP but also PA to be stretched mono-axially in order to substantially increase the mechanical, optical and barrier properties. Stretching is performed, in general, in a short gap stretching system with the length of the stretching gap being adjustable.

Twin Screw Extruder

Our TSE can be used in the production of all types of polymer materials, such as thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, paints, foodstuffs, doughs and pastes.

A number of processing tasks can be carried out, such as:

? Mixing and dispersion of pigments

? Incorporation of fillers and other additives in polymers

? Incorporation of fibre strands

? Alloying of polymers or pastes

? Degassing of volatile constituents from polymers

? Implementing continuous reactions

Filament Winding

Our FW machine is used for creating composite material structures. The process involves winding filaments under varying amounts of tension over a mandrel. The mandrels rotate while a carriage moves horizontally, laying down fibers in the desired pattern.

The process can be well suited to automation, where the tension on the filaments can be carefully controlled. Filaments that are applied with high tension result in a final product with higher rigidity and strength; lower tension results in more flexibility.

Pelletiser

Micro-encapsulation unit

Ink-jet printing facility

Making novel functional materials by bath ultrasonification
Resources & Equipment > Polymer Processing

Home About Nanoforce Capabilities Resources & Equipment *Ceramic Processing* >> *Polymer Processing* *Coating Technology* *Characterisation Tools* S&ME Business Support Associates People Partners News & Events Publications Contact us	Polymer Processing
	Nanospider Nanospider, UK first, allows nanofibers to be produced on an industrial scale for a number of applications. The Nanospider is able to spin a range of different polymers into fibres of differing diameters from namometer to micrometer where the traditional electrospinning with nozzles is from micrometer to millimeter. Operation of the Nanospider allows large scale spinning using a spinning head which is shaped as a cylinder and partly dipped in the required polymer present as a solution. The rotating cylinder separates a thin polymer layer from the polymer solution from which fibres are stretched toward the top electrode under the action of an applied voltage. Nanofibres are deposited in the form of dispersed nanofibres, typically layered on a rolling strip of substrate fabric acting as the top electrode. It is free liquid surface electrospinning that allows the electric field to optimize the distance between Taylor cones, rather than setting the distance arbitrarily. The main advantage of this technology is mechanical simplicity.
	Injection Moulding The machine can be used for making parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials in production. Using a toggle-lock mechanism, molten plastic is injected into a mold using a 35 tonne clamping force. The machine can be used to produce bottle caps, outdoor furniture and a variety of parts, from the smallest component to entire body panels of cars.
	Micro Moulding injection machine (BabyPlast) Ideal for all engineering materials such as glass-filled and high-temperature polymers The machine has a specially designed plasticising chamber which feeds a micro-plunger for very accurate injection. The device has an Auto-purge facility for simple start-up and shut-down and Micro pellets are not required At Nanoforce the machine is frequently used to produce dumbbell shaped test specimens.
	Electro-spinning unit Our ES unit is used to produce uniform polymer nanofibers and uses a standard setup which consists of a spinneret with a metallic needle, a syringe pump, a high-voltage power supply, and a grounded collector. The machine can be used to produce multifunctional fabrics and warrant the investigation of novel textile manufacturing technologies.
	Mini-extruder Our mini-extruder has a volume of 15ml has a temperature range of room temp to 350 ^oC. It also has a water cooling jacket to aid cooling and temperature accuracy The extruder can be fit with fibre and tape dies for the direct extrusion of fibres and tapes. Normally Nanoforce extrude a strand and chop, then post press using, a hot press (for example) to produce the desired sample. The machine has computer telemetry giving data indicative of the viscosity, which (can be) proportional (or at least related) to the mixing efficiency.
	Single Screw Extruders x4 Primarily used for Extruding thermoplastics and elastomers in small and large batches, our SSE¡¯s are used to create long plastic objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile and drawn through a die of the desired profile shape. Post extrusion the polymer material can be designed for enhanced optical, mechanical and stuctural properties. They are also suitable for processing polymer material at very small through put rates as required for research and development applications.

	Film blowing unit with co-extrusion die Blow films like our BL50T are for the production of multi-layer composites. The system we used is also suitable for the production of small films used by the food industry or the medical field and plastic bags. Our Film blowing tower can also be used to demonstrate and test the properties of polymers such as there, optical appearance, haze, stretchability, maximum blow-up ratio, homogenisation performance of the extruder, gels, agglomerates and contaminants dispersion of pigments and other additives
	Platen Hot-Press Our Laboratory Platen Hot press is for carrying out simple pressings in the plastics, rubber, ceramics and polymer industries. For instance it can be used to produce, Thin films from 10 to 100 μm, Sheets from 1 to 20 mm, Laminations, backing/substrate material.
	Hot and Cold Rolling The machine enables a wide range of polymers, especially PE, PP but also PA to be stretched mono-axially in order to substantially increase the mechanical, optical and barrier properties. Stretching is performed, in general, in a short gap stretching system with the length of the stretching gap being adjustable.
	Twin Screw Extruder Our TSE can be used in the production of all types of polymer materials, such as thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, paints, foodstuffs, doughs and pastes. A number of processing tasks can be carried out, such as: ? Mixing and dispersion of pigments ? Incorporation of fillers and other additives in polymers ? Incorporation of fibre strands ? Alloying of polymers or pastes ? Degassing of volatile constituents from polymers ? Implementing continuous reactions
	Filament Winding Our FW machine is used for creating composite material structures. The process involves winding filaments under varying amounts of tension over a mandrel. The mandrels rotate while a carriage moves horizontally, laying down fibers in the desired pattern. The process can be well suited to automation, where the tension on the filaments can be carefully controlled. Filaments that are applied with high tension result in a final product with higher rigidity and strength; lower tension results in more flexibility.

	Pelletiser	Micro-encapsulation unit

	Ink-jet printing facility