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Silane metering with LEWA pumps and LEWA smart control

Silanes are a group of various compounds which are used, among other things, as adhesion promoters and grafting additives for the manufacturing of cable insulation or for the production of chemical intermediates.

LEWA creates systems that can meter any silane type reliably, precisely as well as in constant consistency and purity, regardless of chemical or physical attributes or process requirements. Through adaptive regulation, the control unit LEWA smart control enables quick adjustment of the actual value due to fast transient oscillation, and thus highly precise metering. With more than 60 years of experience, a wide variety of pumps that can handle all volume flows and pressures, and customized system solutions, LEWA is able to fulfill all process requirements.

Solution

Metering silanes with LEWA systems has the following advantages:

  • Closed and weatherproof systems for outdoor installation (frost and rain proof)
  • Open system for indoor installation (stationary or mobile)
  • Safe for installation in ex-zone
  • System can be adjusted to supply voltage, system hierarchy as well as metering quantity and pressure
  • System is adapted to meet requirements regarding flammability, toxicity, and corrosiveness of various silane types. (Already metered silanes include: trichlorosilane, tetrachlorosilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldichlorsilane)
  • Metering of silane with inert gas blanketing (nitrogen) to avoid humidity of air and crystallization
  • If required, the system can heat up or cool down the silane in the metering process
  • Metering with diaphragm pump technology (hermetically tight and resistant to abrasion)
  • Safety valve protects the system from overpressure and damage
  • Pressure gauge for the surveillance of pipes on suction and pressure side
  • Mass flow meter
  • Integrated diagnostic function indicates deviations and disturbances
  • High system availability; even wear of pump is recognized to enable timely maintenance
  • Exact metering through continuous monitoring: LEWA smart control conducts plausibility tests between the signal of the mass flow meter (actual value) and guide signal (setpoint value). Thus, the silane flowrate is adjusted to the speed of the extruder or the plastic melt mass
  • LEWA smart control makes it possible to choose between centralized (multiple extruders controlled by one operating terminal) or decentralized (multiple separate smart control units) operation
Silane metering

Process scheme silane metering

Areas of application

LEWA exhibits at Chem Tech exhibition

Silanes are used in the following industries and products:

  • Production of chemical intermediates or chemicals for laboratories
  • Adhesion promoters for varnish and paint: for high solid paint with few solvents as well as solvent free powder coating and water-based paint, environmentally friendly paints produced by emulsion polymerization with non-toxic organosilanes (silane-modified acrylate coating)
  • Grafting and crosslinking additives for polyethylene in the production of PEX-pipes und XLPE-cables
  • Flame retardant compounds that require crosslinked insulation and coating

Background

What is important when metering silane?

In order to meet the production requirements (reproducibility, consistency, product purity etc.) of plastic cables and plastic pipe compounds for the manufacture of cable and/or wire insulation, metering must be precise, easily adjustable, and unaffected by external influences.

The extremely precise metering is effected via a hopper into the extruder (almost pressureless in laboratory applications) or into the process zone of the extruder by an injection pipe which places silane in the melt polymer. The choice of silane type depends on polymers. Special type organosilanes open new possible applications because they are important components of paints and coatings and their adhesion to various grounds is guaranteed for years.

The speed of silane crosslinking in polyethylene of cables can be influenced by:

  • Silane type
  • Size of the component that has to be crosslinked
  • Temperature
  • Pressure
  • Amount of existing water molecules
  • Efficiency of grafting
  • Amount of catalyst

Source: Wacker Chemie AG, EVONIK Industries

Industries

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Metering and dosing additives in the plastics industry
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Pumps and Systems for the Plastics Industry

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LEWA solutions are found also in other industries, for example in the Varnish- and Lacquer industry
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LEWA offers customized solutions and references for almost all industries in which processes require exact metering or the reliable conveyance of fluids. As specialists in fluid handling, we of course also have experience in areas outside of our key markets.

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Products

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LEWA ecodos is an absolutely reliable, economical and highly adaptable metering pump, especially where diaphragm actuation is not wanted. Here, we also rely on our tried-and-tested modular system in designing the perfect pump for you.

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LEWA micrometering pumps

LEWA MAH, MBH, MLM Micro-metering pumps

Metering pumps for very small flow rates. An especially cost-effective solution when fluid components must be metered proportionally to a variable reference value.

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LEWA FC laboratory pumps

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Metering pumps for very small flow rates. The FC micro-metering pumps for pressures up to 400 bar were developed specifically for laboratories and test centers.

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LEWA Pump Skids

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Ready-to-operate, custom-designed pump units with a small-footprint design. We choose all the pumps, materials, and accessories for these pump skids.

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Customer-specific batch/continuous systems for your production process. Metering, mixing, filling, separating, controlling temperature: We work with you to develop the ideal process-related sequence and produce the system that fits your production process – right up to the end product.

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Turnkey metering system in closed loop control with monitoring and plausibility testing equipment. Your individually configured metering system with an optimally designed pump for fluid metering in automated processes.

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