Process for making composite polymer
View Patent ↗The method of making a pellet comprising wood pulp fiber and thermoplastic polymer, comprising extruding an extrudate comprising 10 to 50 weight % wood pulp fiber and 45 to 85 weight % thermoplastic polymer through a die, cutting a pellet from the extrudate, removing the pellet from the extrudate with water having a temperature less than the extrudate, filtering the pellet from the water. In one embodiment the wood pulp fiber in the pellet has a moisture content of 1% or less. In one embodiment the wood fiber does not swell.
1. A method of making a pellet comprising wood pulp fiber and thermoplastic polymer, comprising:
extruding an extrudate comprising 10 to 50 weight % wood pulp fiber and 45 to 85 weight % thermoplastic polymer through a die,
cutting a pellet from the extrudate,
removing the pellet from the extrudate with water having a temperature less than the extrudate, and
filtering the pellet from the water;
wherein the wood pulp fiber in the pellet when filtered from the water has a moisture content of 1% or less.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wood pulp fibers are bleached chemical wood pulp fibers.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of biopolymers, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate; polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene block copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, and recycled plastics.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
cooling the water filtered from the pellet, and
recycling the water to the extrudate.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wood pulp fibers are bleached chemical wood pulp fibers.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of biopolymers, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate; polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene block copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, and recycled plastics.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pumping the extrudate to the die.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wood pulp fiber does not swell.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wood pulp fibers are bleached chemical wood pulp fibers.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of biopolymers, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate; polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene block copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, and recycled plastics.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
cooling the water filtered from the pellet, and
recycling the water to the extrudate.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wood pulp fibers are bleached chemical wood pulp fibers.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of biopolymers, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate; polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene block copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, and recycled plastics.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising pumping the extrudate to the die.
15. A method of making a pellet comprising wood pulp fiber and thermoplastic polymer, comprising:
extruding an extrudate comprising 10 to 50 weight % wood pulp fiber and 45 to 85 weight % thermoplastic polymer through a die,
cutting a pellet from the extrudate,
removing the pellet from the extrudate with water having a temperature less than the extrudate,
filtering the pellet from the water,
cooling the water filtered from the pellet, and
recycling the water to the extrudate;
wherein the wood pulp fiber in the pellet when filtered from the water has a moisture content of 1% or less.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising pumping the extrudate to the die.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wood pulp fibers are bleached chemical wood pulp fibers.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of biopolymers, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate; polycarbonates, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene block copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, and recycled plastics.