Research on commercially viable plastic foaming technologies at an industry-scale research facility
The Centre for Industrial Application of Microcellular Plastics (CIAMP) is an integral part of a world-leading research network and infrastructure that Dr. Chul B. Park directs. The Centre focuses on the science and technology of plastic foaming. NSERC’s Network for Innovative Plastic Materials and Manufacturing Processes (NIPMMP), a $5-million research initiative, undertakes the investigation of the science of plastic foaming. The Network brings together 21 leading academic researchers across Canada.
To enable effective technology transfer and commercialization, it is imperative that researchers conduct industry-scale experimentation and optimization of these technologies. This is the Centre’s main goal. CIAMP is equipped with state-of-the-art plastic foaming resources, such as industry-scale foam extrusion and foam injection molding systems. In addition, substantial industry expertise supports CIAMP, from the Consortium of Cellular and Micro-Cellular Plastics (CCMCP), a network consisting of more than 20 leading plastics companies around the world. With this extensive research network and infrastructure, we are dedicated to bridging science and technology and providing solutions to enable our partners to succeed in their foaming and composite technologies.
Polymer foaming process optimization, developing ideas for new foaming technologies, developing new foaming technologies for industrial applications, preliminary pilot-scale foaming experiments for full-industrial scale implementation
- Manufacturing and processing
Specialized labs and equipment
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Specialized lab |
Equipment |
Function |
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CIAMP |
1300-tonne KraussMaffei injection molding compounder (IMC) |
This injection molding machine is capable of continuous plasticization and efficient mixing of directly fed long fibres. The customizable twin screw provides the manufacturing flexibility to accommodate numerous applications. Furthermore, the machine’s foaming capability offers competitive advantages, such as material cost savings and improved dimensional stabilities in today’s plastics industry. |
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Krauss Maffei Berstorff XPS tandem extrusion system |
This tandem extrusion system consists of a twin-screw extruder for compounding and a single-screw extruder for cooling. This configuration provides efficient mixing as well as high throughput for foaming applications. Furthermore, the system achieves high processing flexibility because of the customizable screw configurations of the twin-screw extruder. |
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Pilot-scale tandem extrusion system |
This tandem extrusion system (consisting of a single-screw extruder for plasticization and a single-screw extruder for cooling) is the most versatile extrusion system in CIAMP. One or two more extruders can be added to this tandem system to produce co-extrusion applications. The system can accommodate polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and other commercial resins for applications such as foam sheets, foam boards, profile foams, and co-axial cable foams. |
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Maag-Automatik underwater pelletizer |
The SPHERO® 50 underwater pelletizing system has been designed to produce spherical pellets. This highly flexible system can be applied in the manufacturing of raw materials, compounds, master-batches, engineering plastics, thermoplastics elastomers, hot-melt adhesives, and recycling. The system can also be used to produce impregnated thermoplastic beads with varying expansion ratios. |
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Pre-expander from Erlenbach GmbH |
The batch-type pre-expansion has a discontinuous operation with maximum operational pressure from 0.5 to 2.5 bar for pre-expanding EPS bead foams. Additionally, a pressure filling system for the attainment of required bulk density in EPP beads is also available. |
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Recycling machine |
This extrusion system allows us to recycle a wide variety of foam samples in order to minimize the environmental impact of our research at CIAMP. |
Private and public sector research partners
- Macro Engineering & Technology Inc.
- Roechling Engineering Plastics North America
- KraussMaffei Group
Additional information
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Title |
URL |
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Microcellular Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory (MPML) |