COMPOUNDING A POLYMER WITH A PREHEATED PELLET MASTERBATCH

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . A process for compounding a polymer with a pellet masterbatch, which process comprises passing the polymer and the pellet masterbatch to a compounding extruder, the temperature of the polymer being T° C., characterised in that the pellet masterbatch is heated using a heating fluid to a temperature of T-10° C. or higher prior to being passed to the extruder.

17 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the pellet masterbatch is heated by direct heating by passing the heating fluid through the masterbatch to heat it.

18 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the pellet masterbatch is stored at a temperature of T-20° C. or lower.

19 . A process for compounding a polymer with a pellet masterbatch, which process comprises passing the polymer, which has a temperature T° C., and the pellet masterbatch to a compounding extruder, and characterised in that the pellet masterbatch is heated by indirect heat exchange prior to being passed to the extruder.

20 . A process according to claim 19 wherein the pellet masterbatch is stored at a temperature of T-20° C. or lower, and the pellet masterbatch is heated prior to being passed to the extruder to a temperature of T-10° C. or higher.

21 . A process according to claim 19 wherein the masterbatch is heated using the heating fluid prior to mixing with the polymer.

22 . A process according to claim 19 wherein the masterbatch is mixed with at least some, and preferably all, of the polymer, and the mixture is heated using the heating fluid prior to being passed to the extruder.

23 . A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the masterbatch is stored at a temperature 30° C. or more below the temperature of the polymer (T-30° C. or lower), such as 40° C. or more below (T-40° C. or lower).

24 . A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein T° C. is at least 30° C., and preferably at least 40° C.

25 . A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the heating is achieved by using water from a downstream pelletising step using a pelletising system.

26 . A process as claimed in claim 25 wherein the die plate of the pelletising system is steam heated and the condensed steam (“condensate water”) is used as a source of heat for the masterbatch.

27 . A process as claimed in claim 25 wherein the pelletising system uses water to cool and/or transport the pellets after extrusion, and this water (“pellet water”) is used as a source of heat for the masterbatch.

28 . A process according to claim 19 wherein the pellet masterbatch is added to the polymer in an amount corresponding to between 1 and 10 wt % of the combined weight of polymer and pellet masterbatch.

29 . A process according to claim 19 wherein the polymer passed to the extruder is a polymer powder.

30 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the polymer is a polypropylene or a polyethylene, and especially a polyethylene.

31 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the masterbatch is heated using the heating fluid prior to mixing with the polymer.

32 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the masterbatch is mixed with at least some, and preferably all, of the polymer, and the mixture is heated using the heating fluid prior to being passed to the extruder.

33 . A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein the masterbatch is stored at a temperature 30° C. or more below the temperature of the polymer (T-30° C. or lower), such as 40° C. or more below (T-40° C. or lower).

34 . A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein T° C. is at least 30° C., and preferably at least 40° C.

35 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the pellet masterbatch is added to the polymer in an amount corresponding to between 1 and 10 wt % of the combined weight of polymer and pellet masterbatch.

36 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the polymer passed to the extruder is a polymer powder.

37 . A process according to claim 16 wherein the polymer is a polypropylene or a polyethylene, and especially a polyethylene.