World’s smallest twin-screw compouder

Daca Instruments has introduced the Micro-Compounder, a machine that allows lab personnel to quickly process and test one to five grams of material. Most “lab size” batch compounders in use require a minimum of 40 grams of material to operate properly. Also, according to the company, some of these batch mixers fail to provide the intensive mixing achieved by intermeshing twin-screw extruders.

The Micro-Compounder has combined the intensive mixing of a twin-screw extruder with small sample requirements. In a standard twin-screw compounder, residence time is determined by screw length and limited by mechanical constraints. In contrast the Micro-Compounder allows indefinite recirculation of stock providing highly intensive mixing with a very small amount of material.

The apparatus was originally developed by a group of polymer scientists and machinists at DSM in Europe. The design has been improved, resulting in a more accurate imitation of the behavior of large, co-rotating, twin-screw compounding machines, while offering precise control of mixing temperature and speed. It is designed for any facility investigating new, high performance polymer blends, additives or compounds.