Pump and Filtration Technology for Thermoplastic Elastomers

This paper will review the benefits of gear pumps and screenchangers as used with Thermoplastic Elastomers.  The gear pump is a positive displacement device that “meters” elastomers at a very consistent flow. The pump generates pressure at a higher efficiency versus the extruder or mixer thus relieving the extruder from pressure building. Commonly used in the thermoplastic industry for more than 20 years, “a new generation of pumps” has been developed specifically for the elastomer and rubber industry.  Key benefits will be: reduced product temperature, consistent die pressure and increased throughputs. Recent successes have included pumps for EPDM and other rubbers for straining, profiles and wire and cable. Screenchagers are used to filter contaminates from the final extrudate and designs come in discontinuous and continuous models.