Palltruder verse Woodtruder

Zachary Gregory
Abstract – Palltruder verse Woodtruder

The purpose of this project is to produce wood plastic composite (wpc) pellets using the Palltruder (agglomeration) and compare them to pellets of an identical mix, made using a hot face palletizing die attached to the Davis Standard Woodtruder. Following the production of the pellets, the next step will be to find the differences, mechanically as well as physically, using a series of tests.

Physical tests include specific gravity determination, and coefficient of thermal expansion testing. For mechanical testing, flexural testing will be done as well as tensile and izod impact tests. These tests will be performed to determine if the premixing of agglomeration has benefits over the mixing during wood-plastics extrusion. The benefits of agglomeration include the production of specifically sized and shaped material as well better reactivity, decreased fire and explosion hazard. The later may occur from airborne dusts of wood flour and many other materials.

WPC agglomeration has some specific benefits which make it desirable over the conventional twin-screw compounding. Specifically it lowers energy costs due to external heating of the material and the removal of moisture and volatiles in the pellets. It is suspected that the results will show some proof of the potential that agglomeration has had among its other applications. The potential which has been seen in these other applications consists of the ability to mix thermally sensitive materials as well as the other previously stated benefits. Since friction is the primary source of heat and primary principal behind the formation of the pellets, it is known that very little electric power will be used compared to the amount of electric power it takes using a twin screw setup in which a reheating of the setup is required. As for the differences in mechanical and physical properties, it is suspected that both formulations should have similar properties.

Interview with Lucas, Zach and Mike on July 17, 2008