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Ultra-productive with ultrasonic: SIKORA launches the new ULTRATEMP 6000*

Bremen, May 29, 2009 - With the new ULTRATEMP 6000* SIKORA is presenting an ultra-reliable temperature measurement device based on ultrasonic technology, which is specifically designed for the measurement of PE melts. During the production of medium polyethylene hoses and tubes the melt temperature plays a critical role. It can affect the quality of the product as well as the productivity of the extrusion process. With polyethylene materials organic peroxides are used for crosslinking. Here, the melt temperature is subject to tight tolerances, since proper melting and homogeneity set the lower limit while avoiding premature cross-linking sets the upper one.

Conventional methods to measure the melt temperature, such as contact thermocouple sensors, influence the melt flow properties which may result in early crosslinking. Other disadvantages of contact measurements are slow response times and inaccuracies of the measurement as a result of frictional heat. ULTRATEMP 6000* is a non-contact melt temperature measurement system based on non-invasive ultrasonic technology. It precisely measures the melt temperature during production and does not influence the melt flow properties. Therefore, melt shear heating effects do not occur. The ULTRATEMP 6000* determines the melt homogeneity and thus ensures homogeneous melt viscosity for the extrusion process. Early cross-linking after screens, which may lead to ambers and scorches in the polyethylene material is avoided. The ULTRATEMP 6000* includes an adapter, which is positioned in the flow channel between the extruder screw and the extruder head. The adapter consists of high-temperature ultrasonic sensors, i.e. an ultrasonic transmitter on one side and an ultrasonic receiver on the opposite side of the flow channel. The ultrasonic signal is sent through the complete cross section of the plastic melt flow to the receiver and the melt temperature is instantaneously defined in real time. The extremely high measuring rate allows a fast response time as well as the precise capture of small temperature variations.

ULTRATEMP 6000* can be combined with the display and control systems ECOCONTROL 600, 1000 and 2000 ensuring an efficient production control. The processor systems display numeric and graphical process information along with analysis tools as trending and statistical process control analysis. The ECOCONTROL models offer continuous monitoring of the measured values. Alternatively, ULTRATEMP 6000* can be delivered with a Profibus-DP interface. SIKORA’s temperature measurement system optimizes running time and productivity of the extrusion line and supplies an important step for further process optimization and costs reduction.

* Patent pending

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