Extrusion International 1-2023

36 Extrusion International 1/2023 INDUSTRY NEWS Regranulation and Plastic Re-Processing The plastics industry is experiencing continuous growth: valued at US$593 billion in 2021, it is estimated to exceed US$810 billion by 2030 (Source: statista). An increase due to both the material's versatility, suitable for multiple applications, and its recyclability, which makes it a valid and environmentally friendly alternative thanks to which rising costs and raw material shortages can be dealt with. In this regard, there is a growing need to reintroduce post-industrial or post-consumer waste back into the production cycle, viewing it as a valuable resource. Thanks to its own know-how, consolidated over more than 75 years of activity, Bausano specializes in finding ad hoc solutions aimed at converting regenerated material into quality products, besides developing dedicated extrusion lines for the recycling of the main polyolefins (HDPE, LDPE and PP) or for the regranulation of rigid or flexible PVC. Challenges in plastics recovery The first challenge in re-pro- cessing waste polymers is their degradation, due to the stress suf- fered by the material, in its virgin state, during initial processing. Specifically, high temperatures and shear forces strongly affect the polymer chain and change its properties. The second challenge, is the risk of wear and damage to the metal components of the plants processing the scrap. In fact, post-consumer and/or post- industrial thermoplastic material is typically characterized by the presence of impurities, such as glass fibers or metal. The cheapest raw materials are often the most polluted and mixed with other ma- terials, thus the most com- plex to process. This problem can be addressed, in the first instance, by integrating the best filtration technology into the ex- trusion plant to purify the plastic from extraneous residues. In ad - dition, Bausano designs and cus- tomizes technologically advanced solutions by intervening on indi- vidual components. In fact, the special protective coatings applied not only to the screws but also to the collector, granular head and blades of the cutting system, do stand out. Such protective coatings of metal parts are made entirely in-house and designed accord- ing to the rheological behavior of polymers in order to ensure their processability and maximum per- formance in the extrusion process. Special finishes of metal components Two finishes that provide excel - lent wear and corrosion resistance are available: the innovative metal- lic glass and ceramic-based coat-