Abstract: A process is disclosed to recycle and/or formulate expandable plastic materials using a system (1) comprising: an extruder unit (10), a mixer-heat exchanger unit (20), said process comprising the steps of: melting in the extruder unit (10), cooling in the mixer-heat exchanger unit (20), and controlling the melt pressure by means of a melt pump unit (50), followed by granulation, extrusion, or injection molding, wherein a first expansion agent (81) is not degassed during a melt processing in the system (1) such that it is substantially contained in the granulated expandable plastic material (130) or used to form either the extruded, formed and expanded plastic material (140) or the molded expanded plastic article (150). The present invention also relates to a granulated expandable plastic material (130), an extruded, formed and expanded plastic material (140), and a molded expanded plastic article (150) obtainable by said process.

Abstract: A process to prepare a polyester polymer composition comprising a polyester polymer having furanic units is disclosed. The process comprises a step of ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic polyester oligomer, which comprises residue of furandicarboxylic acid and a diol, in the presence of a catalyst in order to yield a polyester polymer having furanic units. The polyester polymer composition obtainable by the process, wherein the polyester polymer composition comprises a polyester polymer having furanic units and a cyclic polyester oligomer in a concentration of less than 5 wt % of the composition. The use of the polyester polymer composition in extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polyester polymer composition having a polyester polymer with furanic units as well as a process to prepare this polyester polymer composition are herein described. The process includes the step of reacting a cyclic polyester oligomer in the presence of a catalyst in a ring-opening polymerization reaction with a reaction temperature and a reaction time sufficient to yield a polyester polymer having furanic units. The present invention further provides a method of use of this polyester polymer composition in extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding.

Abstract: A process to prepare a cyclic polyester oligomer composition having a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units, includes the step of reacting a monomer component, for example, 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid and, for example, ethylene glycol, in a ring closing oligomerization at a reaction temperature and reaction time, for example, at 100° C. to 350° C. for 30 to 600 minutes to obtain a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units. The process yields a cyclic polyester oligomer composition which can be used in further ring-opening polymerization reactions to produce a polyester polymer. The cyclic polyester oligomer composition has a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units and less than 5% linear oligomeric polyester species in the composition.

Abstract: A process is disclosed to recycle and/or formulate expandable plastic materials using a system (1) comprising: an extruder unit (10), a mixer-heat exchanger unit (20), said process comprising the steps of: melting in the extruder unit (10), cooling in the mixer-heat exchanger unit (20), and controlling the melt pressure by means of a melt pump unit (50), followed by granulation, extrusion, or injection molding, wherein a first expansion agent (81) is not degassed during a melt processing in the system (1) such that it is substantially contained in the granulated expandable plastic material (130) or used to form either the extruded, formed and expanded plastic material (140) or the molded expanded plastic article (150). The present invention also relates to a granulated expandable plastic material (130), an extruded, formed and expanded plastic material (140), and a molded expanded plastic article (150) obtainable by said process.

Abstract: A process to prepare a cyclic polyester oligomer composition comprising a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units is disclosed. The process comprises the step of reacting a monomer component in the presence of an optional catalyst and/or optional organic base in a ring closing oligomerization step under conditions of a reaction temperature and reaction time sufficient to yield a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units. The invention further relates to a cyclic polyester oligomer composition obtainable by said process, wherein the cyclic polyester oligomer composition comprises a cyclic polyester oligomer of structure Y1 or Y2 having furanic units, wherein the composition contains less than 5%, preferably 3, most preferably 1 weight % of linear oligomeric polyester species in the composition. The present invention further relates also to the use of said cyclic polyester oligomer composition in the production of a polyester polymer.

Abstract: A process to prepare a polyester polymer composition comprising a polyester polymer having furanic units is disclosed. The process comprises the step of reacting a cyclic polyester oligomer in the presence of a catalyst in a ring-opening polymerization step under conditions of a reaction temperature and reaction time sufficient to yield a polyester polymer having furanic units. The invention further relates to a polyester polymer composition obtainable by said process, wherein the polyester polymer composition comprises a polyester polymer having furanic units and a cyclic polyester oligomer comprising either structure Y1 or Y2, preferably in a concentration of less than 5 wt %, more preferably less than 1, more preferably less than 0.5 in the composition. The present invention further relates also to the use of said polyester polymer composition in extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding.

Abstract: A plant (1) for the continuous manufacture of an expandable plastic granulate (G) is disclosed that includes a plastic melt source (2) for providing a plastic melt (F), an impregnating device (3) for providing an impregnated plastic melt (FB) by impregnating the plastic melt (F) with an expanding agent (B) provided by an expanding agent source, and a granulator (4, 41, 42) for producing the granulate (G) from the impregnated plastic melt (FB) with the granulator (4, 41, 42), with the granulator (4, 41, 42) being fluidly connected to the impregnating device (3). According to the invention, a switching means (5) is provided in such a way, that the plastic melt (F) can be fed to the granulator (4, 41, 42) under bypassing the impregnating device (3). In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing a granulate (G) using a plant (1) in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The method for the manufacture of foamed or foamable polymer particles employs a mixture of a polymer melt and a recycled polymer melt produced from recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. The associated plant for the manufacture of the foamed or foamable polymer particles is provided with an apparatus for the processing of recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles.

Abstract: The method for the manufacture of foamed or foamable polymer particles employs a mixture of a polymer melt and a recycled polymer melt produced from recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. The associated plant for the manufacture of the foamed or foamable polymer particles is provided with an apparatus for the processing of recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles.

Abstract: The method for the manufacture of foamed or foamable polymer particles employs a mixture of a polymer melt and a recycled polymer melt produced from recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. The associated plant for the manufacture of the foamed or foamable polymer particles is provided with an apparatus for the processing of recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles.

Abstract: The method for the manufacture of foamed or foamable polymer particles employs a mixture of a polymer melt and a recycled polymer melt produced from recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. The associated plant for the manufacture of the foamed or foamable polymer particles is provided with an apparatus for the processing of recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles.