Cutting blades specifically designed for strand pelletizing
During strand pelletizing of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP compounds), abrasive polymer strands put extreme stress on the cutting blade of the bed knife. The new Duration cutting blade was developed specifically for this application. Currently, cutting blades for this company’s strand pelletizers have been available with three different blade designs: tungsten carbide (HM), ceramic (CE), or with a diamond-coated surface (PCD). The new Duration cutting edge (photo) features a new material called VS23, which increases the hardness of the surface by up to 70%, thereby reducing wear rate. This extends the service life by a factor of 5 to 9 compared to conventional carbide tools. Due to its four cutting edges, the VS23 represents a cost-effective alternative to the use of PCD blades with diamond segments on one edge only. The performance of the new blades has already been comprehensively validated in the laboratory and in practice, according to the company. — MAAG Pump Systems AG, Oberglatt, Switzerland