Understanding Compounding

by Bob Wildi and Christian Maier. Contents, reviews, and links to on-line sources of the book are included below.

What is Compounding?
Pre-Compounding Operations.
Compounder Types.
Unit Operations.
Post-Compounding Operations.
Evaluation of Compounders.

Understanding Compounding Description:

This book gives a general overview of the compounding process, and a description of the what and how of the major compounding classes and unit operations encountered within a compounding process. It is intended as a primer and reference for engineers, operators, managers, and others involved in compounding processes. It may also be useful to others less deeply involved, but needing a basic understanding of such manufacturing methods, such as sales and service representatives.

In plastics compounding, resins are converted into products that are ready for forming into final plastic parts, such as containers, telephone housings, automobile bumpers, refrigeration liners, shower and tub surrounds, and other innumerable items we use everyday. Compounding can include reactive processing or modification of base polymers, the formation of polymer alloys, isolating polymers after polymerization processes, and much more. It normally involves mixing additives, stabilizers, and colorants with the resins. The production of color concentrates for use in subsequent compounding, extrusion, and molding operations is also considered compounding. While the focus of compounding is on polymers, the same methods are used in the preparation of some foods (e.g., [1]), gun propellants [2], wood products (e.g., [3]), and high-solids content materials (e.g., [4]).

This book is divided into six major sections. They cover a general overview of the compounding process, major compounding equipment, and major unit operations within a compounding process.

Return to Index

This book is easy to read and well organized. The first chapter starts with the introduction of basic compounding definitions and concepts allowing readers to be familiar with compounding terminology. After the first chapter, the book is divided into various sections including Pre -Compounding Operations, Compounder Types, Unit Operations, and Post-Compounding Operations. In each section, the authors follow the same pattern in which basic terminology of either equipment or operation is defined, how and why it is used, and its operating principles or mechanism and process control are reviewed.

Two sections, Compounder Types and Unit Operations, are covered at length. The Compounder Types section presents all types of compounding machines that are commonly used today in detail so that reader can recognize them and understand their usage. This section not only covers both single screw extruder and twin screw extruder, but also the other lesser -known compounding machines. In the Unit Operations section, the authors detail melting, mixing, pumping, and devolatilization of basic compounding as well as reactive compounding.

This book is an excellent reference for process engineers and technicians who are new to polymer compounding as well as non -technical personnel who wish to gain insights in compounding. However, this book will not provide well -seasoned process engineers with new developments in compounding technology or theoretical models.

Wildi, Robert H.
Understanding compounding / Robert H. Wildi, Christian Maier.
p. cm. (Hanser understanding books)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56990-228-3
1. Plastics. I. Maier, Christian, 1961-. II. Title.
III. Series
TP1120.W55 1998
668.4--dc21 97-42793

Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme
Wildi, Robert H.:
Understanding Compounding / Robert H. Wildi/Christian Maier. -
Munich: Hanser; Cincinnati: Hanser/Gardner, 1998
(Hanser understanding books)
ISBN 3-446-18494- 5

Bob Wildi is President of Wildi Compounding Tech, LLC and is a West Virginia University College of Chemical Engineering Adjunct Professor. He recently retired from GE Plastics where he was Principal Engineer - Compounding Technology. He has a total of 33 years industrial experience in Process Development related activities including Start-up and Manufacturing support. The last 22 years were focused on Compounding Processes. He has 4 US Patents re Reactive Extrusion. He and Dr. Christian Maier co-authored the Hanser book UNDERSTANDING COMPOUNDING.

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Table of Contents	Description	Lee Review
Library of Congress Data	On Line Sources of this Book	About Bob Wildi
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