Thermoforming tests

Various thermoforming tests on extruded sheets have been carried out at the Amut facilities in Novara using Teldene H03TF, a polypropylene specifically developed by Natpet (National Petrochemical Industry) for processing with this type of technology. The material was tested on an AMP630 automatic tilting thermoforming machine for the production of 22 ml Aqua Cup containers weighing 3.2 g.
The machine, operating in-line with an EA100 single-screw extruder, produced 80,000 pieces per hour with a 35-cavity mould. The new W-shaped mould cavity configuration allows cups to be produced with scrap amounting to only 36% after the thermoforming stage. The material lends itself to this type of processing because it transfers several mechanical properties to the final product: impact resistance, strength and transparency. Moreover, the use of material recycled from the thermoforming process made it possible to obtain high extrusion stability at low temperature and pressure levels.