When insulating an existing closed-up wall, it is ideal to do it by using the blown-in insulation method. You need to have an insulation blowing machine for this task. A blower forces different insulation materials into the attic or wall cavity such as fiberglass, rock wool and cellulose. You can rent an insulation blowing machine if you intend to do the job by yourself. However, it is a tedious task, which would often require a professional for efficiency in insulating the house.

There are different types of insulation blowing machines. Each type contains standard components such as the blower, hopper, the hose and the engine. Here are more details about the insulation blowing machine types.

1. Professional or Commercial-Grade Insulation Blowing Machine

This type of blower has massive capacity and heavy-duty materials. These professional-grade blowers can force in about 85 to 135 bags of insulation materials per hour. Some brands of blowers contain odor-free materials that are noncombustible and noncorrosive. For instance, Northern White blowing insulation does not contain chemicals that cause bacteria or mildew. Moreover, the material used with this blower will not absorb any amount of moisture that would cause decay.

Industrial-type blowers are also enormous in size. Some machines have a huge dimension of six feet by four feet and a hefty weight of up to 1,500 pounds. These blowers used for commercial purposes cost around $16,000 or even more. Nevertheless, you will find the blowers very efficient to use if you are working on a huge construction.

2. Lower-Capacity Insulation Blowing Machine

If you think that a blower that costs several thousand dollars is too overwhelming, you can consider using a blower with lower capacity. These blowers cost much cheaper, thus making them ideal for a low-budget company. However, you will expect lower volume and capacity specs with these machines. Several brands of lower-capacity blowers can force in about 450 pounds of fiberglass or 2000 pounds of cellulose insulation per hour. Hence, this type of blower is ideal for residential buildings and even commercial establishments that do not require a massive blowing insulation machine.

The lower-capacity blower is also quite light, as compared to professional-grade ones. You can also move the machine easily because it comes with wheels. A typical blower with low capacity weighs about 300 pounds, and it can fit perfectly at the back of a truck.

Aside from the size and capacity of the two types of blowers, there is also a difference in how they are powered. The professional grade blowers use gas to power the motors, while the low capacity can use about 20 amp of household circuit.

Although the insulation process may appear simple, it is still much better to leave the work to professionals. Renting a blower can cost you about a hundred dollars; moreover, the whole process can be very long and tiring. The process is also quite tricky because you have to do the insulation perfectly to achieve excellent results. Hence, it would do you well to consult a professional who can handle the insulation of your attic or the walls in your house.

But now after lengthy research I can call myself a plastic extrusion information center. The production of plastic being heated, melted, shaped, and cut is used for the production of plastic sheeting, wire insulation, adhesive tape. A lot of window frames are even made from plastic extrusion.

In the extrusion process small bead forms of plastic are fed into a heater extruder cavity or cylinder. In some cases ultra violet inhibitors may be added to the raw plastic beads as well. Once inside the heater the small beads enter the extruder cavity towards a screw mechanism. The screw rotates forcing the plastic material through the extruder.

This was an interesting fact; inside the heater is a whopping 400 degrees F, due to the heater having to be the same temperature of the plastic materials melting point. Over heating is a big issue in plastic extrusion and there’s one way to make it stop!

Many plastic extrusion processes involve three different heaters, set to gradually increase heat inside the cavity. That will overall make overheating not an issue. It is also very interesting how so much friction and pressure builds up inside the heater that sometimes the heater will be shut off. So, so much heat is being produces on its own.

After the high temperatures cooling fans are also employed frequently, helping to keep the plastic extrusion cavity at the desired temperature. Now it’s time for the plastic to go into a die. The die gives the plastic its profile after the die, the plastic must be cooled again.

In this Plastic Extrusion Process Plastic sheeting cannot with stand the water cooling bath that the other plastic products go through. As a result cooling rolls are used to gently cool the sheets. The lengthy amount of time and research I put into learning about plastic extrusion paid off. Now I will be the one talking about it to my friend and others will wonder what a marvel I’m talking about.

The extrusion process is used every day for household items, city structures, and simple things as tape. But no one realizes that all of this is made from extruding plastic. After everything is cooled, it is now time for the plastic to coiled or cut to length.

Plastic extruders are used to create a wide range of items, including plastic tubing, trims, seals, plastic sheets and rods. Extruder is the machine for producing more or less continuous lengths of plastic sections out of a selected type of plastic resin. There are a number of extrusion techniques available such as co-extrusion, offset extrusion, oriented extrusion, overcoat extrusion, cold extrusion, ram extrusion and much more.

The essential elements for a thermoplastic extruder are a tubular barrel, usually electrically heated; a revolving screw, ram or plunger within the barrel; a hopper at one end from which the material to be extruded is fed to the screw, ram or plunger; a die at the opposite end for shaping the extruded mass.

Extruders may be divided into three general types:

* Single Screw Extruder

* Twin or Multiple Screw Extruder

* Ram Extruder

Single screw extruders and twin screw extuders are the most widely used extruders. The screw that is used to push the resin out of the die is the important component of a screw extruder. In the earlier days rubber screw were used but the rubber screw was not able to give enough amount of shear into the polymer. Therefore, screws were designed that would start deeper in the feed and gradually taper shallower in the metering section to apply more work on the polymer as it was going from the feed to the discharge.

Basic screw design
The screw is usually contained inside a tight fitting barrel driven by a variable speed motor and gearbox. It is a highly efficient device capable of processing several tons of plastic per hour, even in modestly sized extruders. The screw is divided into three division the feed section, the compressor and the metering section.

The feed section of the screw mechanism stores and delivers resin pellets from a gravity fed hopper into the jacketed screw to begin the plastic longitudinal movement. Screw threads move the plastic using axial rotation. Within the barrel, heaters help the plastic develop a tack to increase its friction against the barrel wall. Without this friction the plastic could not be conveyed forward and would merely rotate inside the screw.

In the transition or melt stage, the root diameter of the screw increases while the height of the flight decreases. The resin is melted here because of compression, shearing and heating produced in the barrel. Now the melt moves to the metering section, where the screw diameter remains constant. The melted plastic which is under high pressure now is pumped into the extruder die.

Barrier Screws
The resin is sometimes not completely melted in the basic extrusion screw. The barrier screw in designed to counter this problem. Additional flights are attached to the transition section so as to separate molten and solid plastic to different channels. As the solid pellet moves forward it melts due to shear against the wall and thus melts and flows into the liquid channel. Thus the solid channel narrow gradually and the liquid channel widens.

Mixing Screws
When mixing two different additives, a more efficient way is to mix extrusion materials with twin screw extruder. In this method two screw rotate with or against each other and have special mixing features, such as kneading blocks and forward and reverse capabilities. Some single screw systems can, however, be used for mixing.

Though general-purpose screws are available, different plastics require differently calibrated extrusion screws. The length-to-diameter ratio, pitch, length of each zone and helix angles of a screw must all be matched to the plastic type being used. The screw must also be designed to suit a specific type of die.

Extrusion screw design has been improving over the years, with new innovations and ideas that help in perpetually adjusting the process so as to meet the needs of specific applications.

Plastic Cast Film Lines is formed when plastic pellets are fed into an user extruder, melted, and conveyed. The molten plastic is worked through a die giving the film its initial width and thickness. The plastic exits downwards through the die onto the main roll of a cast unit. It then passes through a series of rolls for cooling and thickness control. The film is then wound onto a winder. Line rate operation is calculated by an engineer based on extrusion rate, speed of the cast unit and speed of the winder. If these three units are not calibrated and matched correctly, there could be issues with the quality of the product. When a thicker film is needed, plastic cast film lines are used rather than blown film lines.

Equipment Components. When creating cast film, several pieces of equipment are required. The first is the extruder. When purchasing a used extruder, consider the make, L/D ratio, type (AC or DC) and horsepower of the motor, barrel venting, types of controls, type of feeder, condition of the barrel and overall appearance of the used extruder.

The next component is the die. When purchasing used, consider brand, model, width and thickness of the slot opening. Brands include Egan, Reifenhauser, Cloeren, EDI, and Production Components. The next component is the cast unit. Similar in function to the roll stack from a plastic sheet line, the cast unit controls thickness and cools the cast film. Important considerations include face width and diameter of the main roll and whether rolls are water or oil cooled. Rolls can be hydraulic or pneumatically controlled to adjust for sizing. The final component is a winder. Consider brand, model, face width and diameter of the rolls, and if it’s single or dual turret. Common brands include Egan, Welex, Gloucester, Parkinson, and Sano. An additional component is a treater that prints on plastic. Consider the width of the rolls, whether single or double-sided, power rating and brand. Common brands are Wolverine and Gloucester.

When purchasing used plastic cast film lines , consider the quality of the equipment, age, manufacturer, capacity and configurations. The advantages of buying used include immediate delivery and competitive price. Choose a reputable brand with maintenance records.

Plastic Pipe and Profile Lines

Pipes and profiles are formed when plastic pellets are fed into an extruder, melted and conveyed through a die. The pipe or profile then goes into a water tank to be cooled and sized. If the product needs to retain its shape during cooling, a vacuum will be applied to a water bath. Following this part of the process, the pipe or profile is pulled through the water tank by a puller. Then a cutter or winder is applied. With a cutter, the pipe or profile is cut to a pre-designated length. With a winder, the product is wound onto a spool or coil.

When purchasing a used pipe and profile line, consider the extruder make, type (AC or DC) and horsepower of the motor, barrel venting, types of controls, type of feeder, condition of the barrel and overall appearance of the used extruder.

Another consideration is the die. The die needs to match the rate and capacity of the extruder as well as cast the correct profile for the product. For this reason, pipe and profile dies are generally custom manufactured and not purchased on the used market.

When purchasing a water tank, consider the length, width, and height of the tank to ensure the pipe or profile fits. It also needs sufficient time to cool. Also consider the construction material: stainless steel is preferred because it doesn’t rust but water tanks are also available in aluminum and carbon steel. If the tank is under a vacuum, the number and type of vacuum pump is important. The most common brands are Conair, Gatto, CDS and RDN.

Used pullers are available in two types: cleat or belt. Ensure the width and contact length of the belt is appropriate. Also consider motor horsepower and type (AC or DC). Common manufacturers are Conair, Gatto, CDS, Farris, Boston Matthews, Metaplas, Goodman, ESI, and RDN.

There are two types of cutters: saw and flying knife. A saw is used on thicker pipes and profiles and has a slower operation. A flying knife cutter is used on smaller pipes and profiles and operates at higher speeds. When purchasing a saw cutter, consider the diameter of the blade and type of controls for the unit. The capacity should be sized according to the rate of the extruder and the rest of the line. When purchasing a flying knife cutter, consider the capacity, types of controls, brand and model. The system can be air or servo electric driven with the servo electric drive offering greater accuracy. Manufacturers include Conair, RDN, CDS, and Farris (Boston Matthews).

When purchasing a winder, consider the capacity (sized correctly with the rate of the extruder and the rest of the line), the face width and the diameter of the roll. Manufacturers include Progressive, Plastiprogram, and Vulcan.

Used Pipe and Profile Lines

There are several components to used pipe and profile lines. When purchasing used, consider the age, manufacturer, type of blade, motor horsepower, construction material and capacity. The advantages of buying a used version include immediate installation and competitive price. Choose a reputable brand with maintenance records.

One of the best way for us to go green is not by new environmentally friendly products becoming available, it’s by finding an existing eco-solutions for things we currently already use. A great example of that is with packaging materials.

I can’t think of something that has as much impact on our landfills, but as little consumer thought put into it as packaging materials. Almost everything we purchase these days comes wrapped in multiple layers of plastic or plastic laminated papers. These items cause a huge strain on our eco-system since often regions aren’t able to properly recycle the product, or find an end use for that recycled material which makes the recycling economically viable.

The truth is that recycling plastic requires more energy than it did to produce it in the first place, it can take up to 500 years to decompose, and the average family disposes of roughly 40kg of it each year. On top of all this, much of the plastic we put in the blue bin isn’t able to be recycled anyways and ends up in landfills regardless.

The solution? Biodegradable plastic. Biodegradable plastics can be one of two main types. Either they’re made of organic material derived from plant starches or cellulose, or they’re a biodegradable additive which is blended with traditional plastics causing it to break down and biodegradable naturally once exposed to the elements. Either one can be disposed of and will biodegrade, not sit around for 500 years like traditional plastics.

By changing all of our plastic packaging from standard plastic to biodegradable plastic we can help the environment without even noticing it. The packaging may cost a 5-10% more to produce for manufacturers, but since packaging is normally such a small fraction of the total cost of producing a product, they can pass that cost along and have it go unnoticed by their consumers.

Certain types of plastic contain chemicals that are harmful to our endocrine systems. We are all at risk but children, babies and fetuses are particularly vulnerable. Their delicate systems are not fully developed so they are not able to break down chemicals as well. Plastic also compromises our environment. Discarded plastic ends up in our landfills and these chemicals then permeate the ecosystem and find their way back to our homes through our water supply. Chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA) are found in food containers, toys, lotion, shampoo, vinyl shower curtains, the lining inside canned food and the list goes on. Chemicals in these materials leach out into our food and into the environment so we are ingesting and inhaling them. By the time babies are born they are have already been exposed to hundreds of industrial chemicals, many of which are associated with serious diseases such as childhood cancer, autism and ADHD.

Each different type of plastic is classified by a number that you’ll usually find imprinted on the bottom of the container. This number is known as the resin identification code and it serves as a guide to let consumers know which type of plastic it is. It breaks down like this, plastics we should stay away from are #3, #6 and #7. Plastics that do not contain any known hazards are #1, #2, #4 and #5.

#3: polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) which contains phthalates that make plastic flexible. This includes many of the vinyl lunch boxes we send our kids to school with so look for the “PVC free” label next time you buy a lunch box for your child. Phthalates are suspected of causing reproductive and neurological damage

#6: polystyrene (PS) found in styrofoam is typically used in take-out containers and cups. It’s made from styrene which is a potential carcinogen

#7: polycarbonate (PC), made with bisphenol A, the chemical that makes plastic hard. Bisphenol A is a hormone disrupter and it has been linked to a plethora of health problems including heart disease, impaired learning, brain damage, neurological problems, altered immune function, early onset puberty, diabetes, obesity and certain cancers. BPA is found in the lining of canned goods, reusable drink bottles, plastic food cups such as those used for apple sauce and baby food and more

#1: polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). Because this plastic is porous, it absorbs bacteria that cannot be washed off so it’s best for one time use like water and soda bottles

#2: high density polyethylene (HDPE) is commonly found in containers such as milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles

#4: low density polyethylene (LDPE) is the type of plastic typically found in plastic bags

#5: polypropylene (PP) is found in everything from yogurt containers to ketchup bottles. You’ll also find this number on many plastic storage containers
Along with numbers 2, 4 and 5, look for products made with Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA). It’s not as easy to find but it’s one of the safest options because it’s made from renewable sources such as corn, sugar cane and potatoes.

Some chemistry industry professionals claim there is no cause for concern but their standards are based on data that is decades old so Consumer’s Union finds them useless. Most studies show that even a low dose of exposure to BPA is harmful. Even the FDA is finally taking a closer look at these chemicals. Janelle Sorenson, senior writer and health consultant, Healthy Child, Healthy world says progress is being made. “It is entirely realistic to believe that BPA will someday no longer be used in food and beverage products, but it’s hard to know how soon. It’s clearly unnecessary for use in plastics, so that transition is being made rather quickly. Manufacturers are arguing that finding an alternative for lining the inside of cans is more difficult, but Eden Foods uses a safer material and has agreed to make their ‘trade secrets’ public. The key to successful change is finding feasible alternatives. We have those in hand so with sustained consumer pressure, it shouldn’t be too long before we see the end of BPA used in food and beverage products,” says Sorenson.

Because heat causes plastic to breakdown and emit chemicals, experts advise against heating food in any type of plastic container or putting plastic in the dishwasher. When a product is labeled “microwave and dishwasher safe,” this means that it won’t melt or warp, it is not an affirmation that it won’t leach chemicals so it’s best to hand wash plastic, plus, the dishwasher will cause them to breakdown and wear out faster. This also means heating, storing food and packing our children’s lunch in either metal or glass containers or some of the earth friendly reusable washable products that I’ll be writing about in a future blog post.

The good news is that many companies are getting wise and have banned the use of BPA and phthalates. Several manufacturers have made it easier for consumers by labeling items “BPA free”, “phthalate free” and “PVC free”. In July, 2008, congress passed legislation banning certain phthalates from children’s toys and the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act should be on the California Senate floor soon.

Plastic is extremely convenient, there is no denying that. It isn’t easy but Sorenson says it’s best to avoid plastic whenever possible and she offers these tips: “Bring your own reusable bags for produce. Bring your own reusable containers to buy food in bulk. For cheeses and meats wrapped in unidentifiable plastics, unwrap them when you get home and put them into a safer container. Even better, bring your own container and buy from the deli counter. Dry foods like cereal and crackers don’t absorb things from the plastic like moist or fatty foods do, so don’t worry about them,” she advises.

What’s a mom to do? How do we protect our families without going crazy? We certainly don’t want to be paranoid, but, we shouldn’t bury our heads in the sand either. Let your senators and congressmen know that you want laws passed that will protect us. I’m helping provide my family with a healthy, happy home by avoiding plastic with the numbers 3, 6 or 7, replacing cosmetic lotions and potions (particularly those my kids use) with chemical free products, and, as always, recycling!

Well, I’d like to talk to you about this for a few moments if I might. You see, there was an interesting article recently in PhysOrg (dot) titled; ” Amazon fungi found that eat polyurethane, even without oxygen,” published on February 3, 2012 which stated; “Until now polyurethane has been considered non-biodegradable, but a group of students from Yale University in the US has found fungi that will not only eat and digest it, they will do so even in the absence of oxygen.”

Why not let nature figure out a way to eat polyurethane plastic for us? In a way it would be a new symbiotic relationship, and one which brings us back full circle in the eco-recycling arena. The organism would be completely happy doing this work, and it is perfectly suited to do so, meanwhile humans win by eliminating these wasted plastics, and the environment wins also without the added pollution. It is interesting that we will be able to take a man-made product and polymeric chains, and let nature break it back down very quickly into usable molecules which are benign.

It seems science, and nature working together can solve almost any problem. Isn’t it interesting that mankind keeps creating problems, and nature keeps coming up with a way to solve them. Perhaps in our scientific and academic arrogance, we too easily forget that evolution, and nature is an extremely powerful force, after all it has created us. It only makes sense that we should utilize, and adopt best management practices wherever possible, and whenever nature shows us her hand.

So, what can we do with all of this plastic which is polluting our environment, polluting our oceans, and causing challenges for future generations? Well, why not hire Mother Nature to eat it, and this fungus which was discovered will be happy and content breaking down this plastic, and harnessing the energy in the process to live and prosper. Please consider all this and think on it.

The Basic Process
In the most basic terms, the process of Plastic Injection Moulding involves the introduction of a certain material into the moulding machine (most typically via a ‘hopper’). The moulding machine is most commonly made up of a heated barrel (equipped with a reciprocating screw, usually driven by a hydraulic or an electric motor, which usually then feeds molten plastic into a temperature controlled split mould via a comprehensive network of gates and runners).

The polymer is melted by the reciprocating screw, which also then acts as a ram during the injection process. The shearing action of the rotating screw on the plastic assists in providing even more heat that can be utilised in this part of the process before the polymer is then injected into a mould which has been created in accordance to the required dimensions of the finished product desired by the client or customer. The pressure involved in the production process when the polymer is injected into the mould is extremely high, possibly even reaching 1000 atmospheres depending on the material being used in the process.

There are many companies and firms who specialise in producing important components and items made from plastic via the process of injection moulding. There is also a large number of companies which specialise in the production and supply of the moulds used in the injection moulding process.

The importance of the process of Plastic Injection Moulding is demonstrated by the fact that the service provided by the companies practising the process is in great demand by a considerable number of customers, including those in specialist industries such as aerospace and defence which require necessary specialist plastic goods and items produced by this process. The process is most commonly used in the production of the majority of thermoplastics such as polystyrene and nylon.

What is the problem with steel as a primary manufacturing material for our vehicles? It not only weighs a lot, thereby contributing to low mileage ratios, but also leaves a great carbon footprint with all the industrial manufacturing that must be done to produce steel. Plants, mills, electrical exertion, and energy consumption also contributes to increasing costs of vehicles, which is a direct reflection of the amount of energy that must be put forth to manufacture steel.

A proposed alternative is turning to more lightweight, but still durable and strong materials. Since weight is by far has a great influence on fuel efficiency and optimal movement, surely there has to be a more economical material than steel. Research is underway to develop a carbon fiber car, which was introduced in 1978. However, the small car structure remained unattractive to car manufacturers due to small profit margins. Recently more developments have been focused on plastic composites in addition to carbon fiber materials to improve the crash resistance on larger models such as cross-overs and SUV’s. Another experiment focuses on producing cars made from thermoplastic technology and even agricultural resin.

It is still uncertain when we will see primarily plastic cars in the market. When more information is found, the options should be boundless as more non-traditional manufacturers enter the market of more eco-friendly and innovative car production. As more light weight composites are being integrated into car design, the more we shall save on gas mileage. All we can do now is drive as safely and as economically as we can. This means that electric cars will need to invade the market first. And more effort must be geared towards not only primary materials but working on a more lightweight body frame for cars.

Plastics are also being introduced as the main component of your windshield. The process is called polycarbonate glazing, which offers a fifty percent weight reduction which can shave even more weight off a car’s overall weight. In addition, polycarbonate glazing isn’t a new concept but can be designed to shatter in the event of a crash or collision in customized shapes and sizes. Though it is more expensive, ultimately it can end up saving you more money in terms of mileage efficiency, and makes for other customizable options easier to input due to its moldable characteristics.