The universe of industrial resins includes natural or synthetic compounds. Synthetic resins are less expensive, more stable, predictable and easier to refine than their natural counterparts. Synthetic resins are the foundation within paint and plastic production. The focus of this article is the use of positive displacement, magnetically driven seal-less internal gear pumps, which have been proven in critical resin applications.
The all-encompassing term “resin” includes thermoplastic, thermosetting, engineered resins and thermoplastic elastomers. Among the plastic resins, polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE) and
polypropylene (PP) are ones with major demand in the United States with 22.7 million metric tons and 7.6
million metric tons, respectively, produced in 2019. Resins are further classified as polyester resins, epoxy
resins, polyurethane resins, alkyd resins and acrylate resin. To further complicate things, fillers, catalysts
and modifiers may be added to resins to increase their reliability and range of uses. Therefore, many resins
are custom formulations, with some being heat and/or shear sensitive.
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