Trexel, Inc.

Southco, Inc.

Graham Engineering Corporation

Jingyi Xu

Levi A Kishbaugh

Juan C Cardona

Glenn Eric Anderson

Kelvin Tsugio Okamoto

Liqin Chen

Kevin J Levesque

Albert H Guillemette

Kelvin T Okamoto

A sealing device for sealing a venting port of an extrusion apparatus. The sealing device includes a saddle having a saddle counter bore and a seal ring positioned in the saddle counter bore of the saddle. The sealing device also includes a barrel counter bore provided in a barrel of the extrusion apparatus. The saddle counter bore and the barrel counter bore are dimensioned to receive the seal ring, wherein when the seal ring is positioned in the saddle counter bore and the barrel counter bore, a seal is formed between the seal ring in all range of processing temperatures, the saddle and the barrel to prevent the unwanted leakage of high pressure melt.

Seal ring for vent saddle in extrusion barrel

Injection molding and blow molding systems that include screws having low L:D ratios are provided. The systems are capable of producing microcellular polymeric materials. In some cases, the systems may be formed by retrofitting conventional polymer processing systems. Retrofitting may involve changing (e.g., machining or replacing) existing components of the conventional system, as well as, adding new components to the system. For example, retrofitting generally involves replacing the conventional polymer processing screw with a new screw designed to satisfy conditions needed for processing microcellular materials. In other cases, the systems may be newly manufactured. The retrofitted or newly manufactured systems of the invention are considerably less expensive than newly manufactured microcellular processing systems having higher L:D ratios.

Method of processing polymers using a single screw

Polymer molding processes, such as injection-molding processes, include use of a viscosity-reducing supercritical fluid additive resulting in less breakage of reinforcing fibers upon introduction into the mold.

Fiber-filled molded articles

Polymer processing systems including screws

The invention provides systems, methods, and articles useful in the production of foams, and, in particular microcellular foams. The systems include a restriction element that reduces the backflow of polymer melt in an extruder while polymeric material is injected into a mold or ejected from a die. The restriction element is positioned upstream of a blowing agent injection port to maintain the solution of polymer and blowing agent in the extruder above a minimum pressure throughout an injection or ejection cycle, and preferably above the critical pressure required for the maintenance of a single-phase solution of polymer and blowing agent. The systems can be used in injection molding, blow molding, or in any other processing techniques that include injection or ejection cycles. In some embodiments, the systems utilize reciprocating screws for injection or ejection. In other embodiments, the systems include an accumulator connected to an outlet of the extruder, in which a plunger moves to inject polymeric material into a mold or eject polymeric material from a die.

Methods for manufacturing foam material including systems with pressure restriction element

An injection molding screw for metal injection molding includes a first end, a second end, a longitudinal body with a first stage and a second stage extending axially along a length of the screw between the ends, a pressure retention device, and optionally, a screw tip. The pressure retention element minimizes loss of pressure in the second stage portion.

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York, PA, United States of America

Jingyi Xu