“Dedicated to bridging science and technology and providing solutions to enable our partners to succeed in their foaming and composite technologies.”

The Centre for Industrial Application of Microcellular Plastics (CIAMP) is a state-of-the art R&D centre with industry-scale facilities for developing innovative, com-mercially viable plastic foaming and composite technolo-gies. CIAMP is an integral extension to the Microcellu-lar Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory (MPML), which is the international leader in plastic foaming research since its inception in 1993.

scale experimentation and optimiza-tion of these technologies is con-ducted. This is the main goal of the CIAMP. The CIAMP is equipped with state-of-the-art plastic foaming resources, such as industry-scale foam extrusion and foam injection molding systems. In addition, the

CIAMP is supported by substantial industry exper-tise from the Consortium of Cellular and Microcellular Plastics (CCMCP), a net-work comprising 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 tech-nologies.

The objective of the CIAMP is to collaborate with industries to devel-op innovative microcellular plastic products and commercially viable processing technologies. The CIAMP is an integral part of a world-leading research network and infra-structure directed by Dr. Chul B. Park focusing on the sci-ence and technology of plastic foaming. The in-vestigation on the science of plastic foaming is un-dertaken by the NSERC Network for Innovative Plastic Materials and Manufacturing Processes (NIPMMP), a $5-million research initiative bringing together 21 lead-ing academic researchers across Canada. To enable effective tech-nology transfer and commercializa-tion, it is imperative that industry

“Our vision is to collaborate with industries for innovation, with a focus on scientific understanding and technological development” - Chul B. Park

1300 ton Injection Foam Molding System

Tandem Extrusion Foaming System

“Industry-scale ex-perimentation and optimization is im-perative to enable effective technolo-

gy transfer”

Centre for Industrial Application of Microcellular Plastics

Centre for Industrial Application of Microcellular Plastics (CIAMP) University of Toronto

3440 Wolfedale Rd., Unit B Mississauga, ON L5C 1W4

Administration: Kara Kim Technician: Saleh Amani Tel: 416-978-3053 Tel: 647-740-2824

Email: kara@mie.utoronto.ca Emial: amani@mie.utoronto.ca

http://ciamp.mie.utoronto.ca

Chul B. Park, Professor Director of the CIAMP Tier I Canada Research Chair in Microcellular Plastics Email: park@mie.utoronto.ca

Network for Innovative Plastic Materials And Manufacturing Processes

:

Experience and Discipline

“Scientific excellence and commercial viabil-ity should converge to facilitate technological

advancement”

20-ton Overhead Crane

On-Line Feeding of Long Glass Fiber

1300 ton KraussMaffei Injection Molding Compounder (IMC)

Descr ipt ion: This injec on molding machine is capable of a con nuous plas ciza-on and efficient mixing of directly fed long fibers. The customizable twin-screw provides

the manufacturing flexibility to accommodate numerous applica ons. Furthermore, its foaming capability offers compe ve edges such as material cost savings and improved dimensional stabili es in today’s plas cs industry.

Capabi l i t ies : Single step manufacturing (twin-screw compounding + injec on molding)

Fully con nuous process for maximum plas ciza on and mixing

Direct injec on and accurate control of physical blowing agent for foaming technology

Flexible and highly customizable manufacturing process (modular screw configura on)

Direct and con nuous feeding of long fibers to maximize their aspect ra os

High filler contents possible

Superior dimensional stabili es against shrinkage and warpage

Significant material cost savings via foaming and reduc on in amount of addi ves needed.

Spec i f icat ions : Specially designed to accommodate physical foaming technology

13,000 KN of maximum clamping force

8588 cm3 of maximum stroke volume

6.2 kg for PP or 8.0 kg for 30% glass-filled PP of maximum shot weight

1,200 cm3/s for maximum injec on flow rate

60 mm for twin-screw diameter and 42 L/D ra o

8 hea ng zones for hot runner system

Maag-Automatik Underwater Pelletizer Descr ipt ion: The SPHERO® 50 underwater pelle zing 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 plas cs, thermoplas cs elas-tomers, hot-melt adhesives, and recycling. The system can also be used to produce im-pregnated thermoplas c beads with varying expansion ra os. Capabi l i t ies : Ideal for lab applica ons and produc on lines for master-batches, compounds

Process stability due to quick and reliable start-up func on

Spec i f icat ions : 10 kg/hr of maximum throughput

0.6 ~ 2.5 mm pellet diameters

60 °C of maximum pellet temperature

Pre-Expander from Erlenbach GmbH Descr ipt ion : The batch-type pre-expansion has a discon nuous opera on with maximum opera onal pressure from 0.5 to 2.5 bar for pre-expanding EPS bead foams. Addi onally, a pressure filling system for a ainment of required bulk density in EPP beads is also available.

Capabi l i t ies : Short adjustment periods when changing processing condi ons

Precise density control Efficient steam exit and blowing agent suc on

Economical u liza on of steam-condensate for hea ng

Spec i f icat ions : 2.5 bar of maximum opera ng pressure

150 liter of expansion chamber

70 kg/hr (for 15 g/l), 140 kg/hr (for 20 g/l), and 160 kg/hr (25 g/l) of produc on capa-bility

40-50 kg/hr of steam consump on

Underwater Pelle zer

Cu er Head

Steamchest Molding Machine

for Expanded Beads

BRIDGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

“We have a strong com-mitment and interest in the fundamental stud-ies of plas c foaming, because we believe that science will lead us to technological break-through in industries”

On-Line Drying Hopper

Con nuous Pump for

Physical Blowing Agent

KraussMaffei Berstorff XPS Tandem Extrusion System

Descr ipt ion: This tandem extrusion system consists of a twin-screw extruder for compounding and a single-screw extruder for cooling. This configura on can provide effi-cient mixing as well as high throughput for foaming applica ons. Further, high processing flexibility can be achieved because of customizable screw configura ons of the twin-screw extruder. Capabi l i t ies : Excellent size-output ra o

Outstanding mixing capability

Direct and accurate injec on of liquid or gaseous physical blowing agent(s) into the twin-screw extruder

Flexible and highly customized process flexibility (modular screw elements and bar-rels)

Excellent cooling of single-screw extruder through “wet” liners of barrels and pressur-ized water

U liza on of patented ac ve melt seal

Spec i f icat ions : 450 kg/hr of maximum throughput

65 mm for twin-screw diameter and 30 L/D ra o

150 mm for single-screw diameter and 30 L/D ra o

On-line drying hopper with 450 kg/hr of maximum throughput

600 mm width of foam board with variable thickness

Various types of physical blowing agents (CO2, n-butane, n-pentane, etc)

Pilot-Scale Tandem Extrusion System Descr ipt ion: This tandem extrusion system (comprising of a single-screw extruder for plas ciza on and a single-screw extruder for cooling) is the most versa le extrusion system in CIAMP. One or two more extruders can be added to this tandem system to produce co-extrusion applica ons. It can accommodate polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly-carbonate, and other commercial resins for applica ons such as foam sheets, foam boards, profile foams, and co-axial cable foams. Capabi l i t ies : Manufacturing flexibility for various applica ons

Direct injec on and accurate control of physical blowing agent(s) for foaming technology

Spec i f icat ions : 20-80 kg/hr of maximum throughput

2 on-line drying hoppers (45 kg/hr and 90 kg/hr)

Recycling Machine Descr ipt ion: This extrusion system is to recycle a wide variety of foam samples in or-der to minimize the environmental impact of our research at CIAMP. Capabi l i t ies : Significant reduc on of environmental foot-print of research ac vi es at CIAMP

Capable of recycling various commercial foams such as EPP, EPS, EPE, and etc.

Complete processing from foam samples to solid pellets

Opportuni es for research u lizing recycled plas cs

Spec i f icat ions : Tandem extrusion set up (two single-screw extruders)

200 kg/hr of maximum throughput

Calibrator for Foam Board

Applica on

Characteriza on Capability 3 foaming simulation systems

with visualization

1 hot-stage optical microscope with image processing

1 rotational stress rheometer

1 rotational strain rheometer (ARES)

1 on-line slit rheological die

2 melt flow indexers

1 high-pressure DSC and 2 regu-lar DSC

1 thermal mechanical analyzer

1 dynamic mechanical analyzer

2 magnetic suspension balances (MSB)

1 PVT/surface tension measuring device

1 non-descructive scanner

1 scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

2 pycnometers (open cell con-tent)

1 Thermal conductivity measur-ing device

1 electric conductivity measuring

Pilot-Scale Tandem

Extrusion Line

GETTING THE MOST FROM

OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM

Lab-Scale Equipment

CFI-ORF Canada

Founda on for Innova on—

Ontario Research Fund

(funding agency)

CFI-LEF ORF-LIF

Canada Founda on for Innova on-Leading Edge and New Ini a ves Funds Ontario Research Fund-

Large Infrastructure Fund (funding agency)

NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering

Research Council of Canada

(funding agency)

Industrial Partners

(funds)

Microcellular Plastics Manu-facturing Laboratory (MPML) is the premier research laborato-ry for innovative plastic foaming technology in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engi-neering, University of Toronto. The focus in MPML is funda-mental knowledge and technolo-gy development using the analyt-ical and lab-scale equipment. Laboratory currently supports 22 PhD, 3 Post-Doc and 4 Master students. The key research areas include the processing of plastic foams and composites through novel injection molding tech-niques and extrusion processing, involving both physical and chemical blowing agents. Addi-tional information can be ob-tained at:

http://mpml.mie.utoronto.ca

NSERC Network for Innova-tive Plastic Materials and Manufacturing Processes (NIPMMP) is an academic net-work between 20 Professors from 11 Universities and 15 In-dustrial Partners. The objective of the NSERC NIPMMP is to develop a wide range of novel polymer materials and technolo-gies that will make Canada a prominent innovator in original, high-value-added plastic prod-ucts and related manufacturing processes. Additional infor-mation can be obtained at:

http://nipmmp.mie.utoronto.ca

Centre for Industrial Applica-tion of Microcellular Plastics (CIAMP) focuses on developing new products and processing technologies for microcellular foams. The overall goal of CIAMP is to facilitate technology transfer to the industry. We will mobilize the knowledge and lab-technology for improving and building up on the current indus-trial technology. Additional in-formation can be obtained at

http://ciamp.mie.utoronto.ca

Consortium for Cellular and M i c r o c e l l u l a r P l a s t i c s (CCMCP) was formed to facili-tate the access of processors, equipment designers, resin sup-pliers, and foaming agent suppli-ers to highly qualified research personnel. It also established a network for training young engi-neers in the areas of technologies for processing cellular plastics. CCMCP currently comprises of 23 industrial partners from around the world. Additional information can be obtained at:

http://ccmcp.mie.utoronto.ca

Pilot-Scale Equipment

“Collabora ve re-search between indus-

tries and academia around the world leads

to rapid technology transfer”

Academic Network Industrial Network Knowledge and

Technology Transfer

CIAMP Partners (CFI-LEF & ORF-LIF)

NIPMMP Partners (NSERC Network)

Company A

Company B

Company C

Company D

Company E

Company F

Company G

Industry-Scale

Equipment

Analy cal Equipment

CIAMP MPML

NIPMMP CCMCP