Processing Systems for Polymers

Vacuum Drying for Polymers

The Nauta^® vacuum dryer is ideal for drying polymers after synthesis. It applies vacuum and heat to evaporate all liquid components and cure the product. If the fluid's boiling point is higher than the polymer's melting point, the valuable fluid (monomer) can be recovered in a controlled manner during the condensing step.

Its ability to handle multiple process steps in one vessel reduces handling, prevents cross-contamination, and maintains consistent product quality. The Nauta dryer is widely used to dry base polymers, pre-extrusion intermediates or moisture-sensitive formulations.

Extrusion-Ready Drying

For pelletising or direct extrusion, polymers must be dry and uniformly conditioned. The Nauta vacuum dryer prepares virgin or recycled polymers by achieving ultra-low residual moisture and homogeneous product feed—both critical for extrusion performance.

Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are advanced materials capable of absorbing and retaining exceptionally large volumes of liquid. These water-absorbing polymers, or hydrogels, can hold up to 500 times their own weight in water. Absorbency depends on the type and ratio of cross-linking agents used in the polymer network: low-density cross-linked SAPs absorb more liquid, while high-density cross-linked SAPs have a lower absorbency but form firmer gels.

The Flexomix mixer/agglomerator is commonly used to add surface cross-linking agents to SAPs. It precisely doses powder and liquid components to form a homogeneous mixture, and its self-cleaning design prevents product build-up—an issue often encountered in superabsorbent polymer processing.