Polymer micronization through extrusion with supercritical fluids

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It is the overall objective to attempt to develop an extrusion process for the production of very fine fibers and powders from polymer melts saturated with supercritical carbon dioxide. Ingenia Polymers provides size reduction services as part of their Primary Producer Division. As leaders in thermoplastic grinding, Ingenia can produce a full range of powders demanded by the customers' applications in roto-molding, powder coating, compounding and dispersions. Particle size distribution and morphology are precisely controlled using proprietary technology and know-how to optimize product performance. This project will enable Ingenia Polymers to continue to explore the innovative use of supercritical carbon dioxide in extrusion/compounding operations for the purpose of developing a low energy process for the production of micronized polymeric compounds and powders for various tiered automotive suppliers. These micronized powders can be converted to a variety of engineered automotive plastics components. Another automotive application is in the area of "slush" molding which is a process very similar to rotational molding which requires powdered polymers. The technology being developed will allow for the use of a wider variety of polymeric materials than what is currently possible. Also, fibrous material produced with this technology can find applications in the automotive area due to their filtering and absorbing properties.